In my part of our study regarding director Martin Scorsese, I watched his movie "Gangs of New York." The film was about, well, the gangs in New York City during the Civil War. The time is around 1862, which was only a year after the war had started. There was large amounts of unrest in the city, which was filled with immigrants, political corruption, and gangs. The film features an Irishman in his twenties, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonargo DiCaprio), who seeks revenge on a large social machine, Bill Cuttining (Daniel Day Lewis), after the empowered social leader killed his father in a battle. However, as Amsterdam tries to gain money, he becomes increasingly close to Cutting, but when Amsterdam tries to kill him, Cutting spares Vallon, leaving him branded. Around all that specific conflict, however, is the local outrage regarding the Union's Draft requirements. In the end, Amsterdam's gang is about to face off against Cutting's gang, when suddenly the fight gets attacked by the Union military who had been killing mobs that whole day. Cutting dies, yet it is a bittersweet victory for Amsterdam, because the fight never really started nor was official, and Cutting was already seriously injured before Amsterdam finished him off.
As Andy had posted regarding Scorsese's film "The Departed," this director uses a lot of gore. "Gangs of New York" is no exception, with its two big battle scenes as well as countless bloody murders throughout the entire film. It is clear and evident that Scorsese uses a lot of gore and violence in his films, however the violence isn't just there to attract more viewers, it's there for a reason: to show how corrupt our societies are. "Gangs of New York" takes place primarily in what is called 5 Points, otherwise known as a place for crime and murder. All the violence that occurs is not only between workers, but also between police and firemen as well. There is a clear portrayal of violence and gore, which is consistent with most Scorsese films.
Another point that I would like to bring up regarding themes/common traits of Scorsese films would be the use of gangs/mobs. All the movies that our group is watching for this assignment ("The Departed," "Gangs of New York," "Goodfellas," and "Casino) have a clear use of gangs and/or the mafia. In fact, the plot centers around these groups. In "Gangs of New York," gangs are used to portray a brotherhood or a sense of belief. Most of the Irish gangs were friends from back home in some way, but also shared a common belief or goal, which was usually a hatred for American injustices towards immigrants. Also, the American gangs shared the same views as well: hatred for immigrants and blacks. Bill Cutting is a firm believer that America should belong to native-born Americans, and he shows the audience by killing innocent immigrants but also by hating political machines, ie Boss Tweed, who would give welfare to the immigrants in order for their vote.
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8 comments:
I thought Gangs of New York was pretty gruesome. The killing in this film was easy to compare to the killings in The Departed. It's quite apparent that Scorsese loves gore, since he doesn't hold back anything in his films. I also thought Leonardo DiCaprio's role in Gangs of New York lived up to his role in The Departed.
I really enjoyed gangs of new york and I also thought that the killing in the film was comparable to the departed. In particular, I really like how in the first battle scene Scorsese choses to set the fight in the winter for the effect of the blood mixing with the snow. At the beginning of the fight the landscape is completely white, but after it's over the entire field has been turned red.
I also thought that fight scene was really cool. I thought the setting was good, the area they were in and the time the movie was set in really helps add to the overall effect of the film.
I would say this is my favorite Scorsese film out of all of his other ones. not to say i dont like his other movies, but i thought this movie was done acceptionally wel. I agree with kieper, i really liked how by the end of the battle the field has changed from white to red. These battles show the true patriotism of these gangs, by proving that they would spill their own blood for their country and their countrymen.
I think what made me like this film so much is the ending. As in othere Scorsese films, the ending seems to have a very profound way of giving the viewer closure. In particular, I liked how the shot from the graveyard is first shown in the time that the story took place and then the next shot is the same graveyard across from what is percieved to be present-day New York giving Leonardo DiCaprio's words more meaning.
spot on mike. you hit the nail right on the head. many of Scorsese's films have endings where everything gets finished and all loose ends are tied up, like in the departed when Mark Wahlberg finishes off Matt Damon, and i was wondering why Damon never got his since most of that story was caused because of his character
I think that gore and violence was the reason why I liked this movie so much. Not only was it the fact that there was a lot of gore and violence, but it was used in a way or context that appealed to me. The usage of all the violence through gangs and immigrant tension increased the intensity of the fil min my mind.
Also, I really liked the Bill Cutting character. He is known as The Butcher in the film, and his skill with knives are amazing. Though his character, played by Daniel Day Lewis (who is truly a great actor in my mind), is the bad guy of the film, I feel like he makes the film much more enjoyable and interesting. He was also a big part of the gore, as well, being that he was the knife master. He always cut people up and used very racist language, which added to the gore and violence as well. I agree with all your comments that gore is definately apparent in Gangs of New York, but it definately made it a good movie in my mind.
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