TV Times

TV Times

New York Gangs clash in Colombo
By Susitha R. Fernando
World famous director Martin Scorsese, with over twenty five films to his credit brings ‘Gang of New York’ (GONY) the almost three hour epic film of early America.

The racketeers, bootleggers, swindlers, gamblers and legendary murderous at crime-ridden streets are now in action at th MC. Set in Five Points a corner of New York city during the ongoing civil war when the nation’s own survival was being tested.

The GONY was nominated for ten Academy Awards including Best Director (Martin Scorsese) and Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), winning the Golden Globe award for the Best Director and British Academy Film Award (Best Actor).

Reviewing the GONY the ‘The Guardian’ states “GONY” is a movie with thousand times more energy and life and sheer virility than anything else Hollywood had to offer. Martin Scorcsese thinks big, acts big, films big…Wonderful spectacle, terrific acting and towering great filmmaking.

A brief synopsis at this time of lawlessness and the rampant political corruption that filled the councils of city government. Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo Dicaprio), a young Irish-American immigrant, released from prison after fifteen years, returns to Five Points bent on revenge against William Cutting, a.k.a. Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), the powerful anti-immigrant gang leader who killed Amsterdam’s father. Amsterdam knows that the first step toward accomplishing his mission is to infiltrate Bill’s inner circle. However, Amsterdam finds his difficulties increasing when he meets Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz), an enigmatic pickpocket whose fierce independence and undeniable beauty fascinates him.

Yet Jenny has a past too, which unexpectedly complicates his plan.
This is the story structure of the film which reaches its climax when
Amstersdam’s journey becomes a fight, for both personal survival and to find a place for his people during the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots - the most explosive episode of urban unrest the American nation had yet seen.

GONY deals with the ethos of the Civil war in the North and as such historians may have much to say about it positively and negatively.
As for the cinemagoers GONY introduces today’s world to Five Points, a dark, teeming corner of the city known to New Yorkers of long ago as the centre of vice and chaos with its old world charm and nostalgia.

Applauses for Gangs of New York
Academy Awards (Oscar)-10 Nominations - including Best Picture.
Golden Globe Awards -Winner - Best Picture
British Academy Awards -Winner - Best Actor
AFI-Winner - One of the Best Films of the Year
Los Angeles Film Critics Awards-Winner - Best Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis
Winner – Best Production Design - Dante Ferretti
National Board Of Review-Ranked second Best Film
NY Film Critics Circle Winner - Best Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis

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