 Tagline: America Was Born In The Streets. An epic tale of vengeance and survival, Gangs Of New York now his harder than ever on Blu-ray Disc. Directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese (2006, Best Director, The Departed), this motion picture event stars two time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis (1989, Best Actor, My Left Foot; 2007, Best Actor, There Will Be Blood), Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz After years of incarceration, young Irish immigrant Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio) returns seeking revenge against the rival gang leader (Day-Lewis) who killed his father. But before long Amsterdam's personal vendetta becomes part of an erupting wave of full blown gang warfare. Feel you heart pound while weapons and culture clash in a chaotic symphony of life and death. Surrender to the tumultuous atmosphere of 1860s New York as phenomenal sound and stunning visual clarity transport you back in time. Prepare to experience Scorsese's masterpiece as never before on Blu-ray High Definition. Storyline: 1863. America was born in the streets. In this movie, we see Amsterdam Vallon returning to the Five Points of America to seek vengeance against the psychotic gangland kingpin Bill the Butcher who murdered his father years ago. With an eager pickpocket by his side and a whole new army, Vallon fights his way to seek vengeance on the Butcher and restore peace in the area. However this is more said than done. Written by Omar Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Kenneth Brown on February 6, 2010 -- With the exception of Woody Allen, few filmmakers have paid as much respect or made as many cinematic pilgrimages to New York as Martin Scorsese. Born in the heart of the city and raised on its mean streets, fascinated with its violent history and intrigued by the image of a vast, grizzled kingdom atop a war-torn American hill, the Oscar-winning director has long toiled in the shadows of New York's glass towers and embraced the hopes of its denizens. Even when others were still reeling from the terrible events of September 11th, Scorsese was putting the finishing touches on a passion project that had been gestating in his brain for decades: Gangs of New York. Brimming with forgotten history and moving revelations, it's arguably his most personal film; a sprawling, tragic encapsulation of the enduring spirit and unwavering soul that have made his beloved city the thriving mixing bowl it is today. It isn't a perfect film -- his characters are often overshadowed by the more ambitious pursuits of his saga -- but its arresting performances, stirring authenticity, magnificent cinematography, and sweeping tale of rage, revenge, and redemption make it a mesmerizing and rewarding one. Winter, 1846. A young Irish boy named Amsterdam (Cian McCormack) watches helplessly as a vicious crime lord dubbed Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis) kills his father (Liam Neeson) during a bloody battle between Manhattan's Natives (a gang whose members were born in the United States) and the city's Dead Rabbits (a rival gang comprised of immigrants). Sixteen years later, Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to exact his revenge, but finds those who once swore loyalty to his father are now in the service of the Butcher. As he conceals his true identity, works his way into Bill's inner circle, and begins plotting the man's demise, Amsterdam reunites with old friends (Henry Thomas) and meets new acquaintances (Cameron Diaz), all of whom will play a role in his inevitable confrontation with his father's killer. However, to his dismay, nothing goes as planned, leaving the vindictive orphan with little choice but to rally an army and face the Butcher on the streets of New York. Though a fictionalized account of key historical events (including the infamous 1863 Draft Week riots), Gangs of New York paints a convincing portrait; one that defies expectation yet revels in authenticity. Sure, the story revolves around Amsterdam's vengeance, but the real character in the film, the real focus of Scorsese's startling bloodbath, is 19th Century New York. A far cry from the film I thought it would be, and an even farther cry from the history I thought would unfold, Gangs of New York is a testament to Scorsese's mastery of his craft and devotion to his vision. From the meticulous design of his jaw-dropping sets to his admirable refusal to gloss over the grit-n-grime of the era, the director unleashes some of the same brutality he employed in Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Goodfellas (among many others) on what could have easily been a plodding period piece. He uses Amsterdam's pain to examine the plight of early American immigrants; he dissects Bill's spittle-spewed hatred to explore the racism and fear that have dominated America since its inception; he intensifies their heated encounters in an effort to revisit a number of significant events that altered the course of the city forever. Those caught up in Amsterdam's quest may be disappointed every time Scorsese's cameras linger in the city's muddy streets, but the director's interests rarely lie with those of his audience. His characters are ever-shuffling pieces -- albeit well-developed, fully realized pieces -- in a greater game of cultural and historic chess. He doesn't rely on their individual stories to weave a 19th Century revenge fantasy, but rather to redefine the genesis and evolution of New York, and place it in the context of its very volatile, very savage past. To that end, Scorsese's cast and crew rise to the challenge, giving their all to an unconventional epic. Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan's screenplay nearly topples from the unwieldy weight of it all, but manages to stay upright. Their slowburn pacing and intense exchanges give the actors the dramatic drive they need to propel Amsterdam and his cohorts from scene to scene. More importantly, the balance they strike between story, history, and character prevents the film from becoming a lofty misfire. Through it all, DiCaprio and Day-Lewis are extraordinary. DiCaprio plants the seeds of the torn and tormented loyalist he'd come to perfect in The Departed, bending and bowing with heartache and confusion as he draws closer to his father's killer. Meanwhile, Day-Lewis readily refines the ingredients that recently give us Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood; a man teetering on the edge of madness, consumed by equal parts arrogance and self-loathing. The scenes they share together are among the film's finest, while the skewed father/son relationship they develop is among the film's most effective and most haunting elements. Yes, modern sensibilities manage to creep into the script and performances, but they're never a distraction, instead offering familiar footholds audiences can use to clamber up the heights of Scorsese's elaborate Best Picture nominee. Gangs of New York isn't a traditional crowd-pleaser -- its more divisive aspects will leave some viewers by the wayside long before Bill and Amsterdam's animosity comes to a head -- nor is it an easily accessible period piece. However, it is the sort of film guaranteed to generate discussion and send fans scrambling for a history book (or Google, as it were). If you haven't had a chance to decide for yourself, take the time and give it the opportunity it deserves. At long last, a remastered Blu-ray Edition of Gangs of New York has arrived to wipe away the tears fans have cried since Disney's 2008 release broke their hearts. With a near-perfect video transfer (finally, finally!), a rousing DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a fairly captivating supplemental package, it's the release everyone has been waiting for since Disney's 2008 debacle left an angry mob in its wake. A few additional special features may have helped soften the blow of the new disc's pricepoint, but I doubt many consumers will bemoan its cost once they see how amazing GoNY looks in high definition. Rest easy, Scorsese enthusiasts. All is well. Cast Notes: Leonardo DiCaprio (Amsterdam Vallon), Daniel Day-Lewis (Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting), Cameron Diaz (Jenny Everdeane), Jim Broadbent (William 'Boss' Tweed), John C. Reilly (Happy Jack Mulraney), Henry Thomas (Johnny Sirocco), Liam Neeson ('Priest' Vallon), Brendan Gleeson (Walter 'Monk' McGinn), Gary Lewis (McGloin), Stephen Graham (Shang), Eddie Marsan (Killoran), Alec McCowen (Reverend Raleigh [as Alec Mccowen]), David Hemmings (Mr. Schermerhorn), Larry Gilliard Jr. (Jimmy Spoils), Cara Seymour (Hell-Cat Maggie). IMDb Rating (06/29/17): 7.5/10 from 334,339 users
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