A modern classic gangster movie is airing on TV tonight

A Modern Classic Gangster Movie is Airing on TV Tonight

Tonight's TV movie pick (8 November) is Gangs of New York, a period gangster epic directed by Martin Scorsese, known for Goodfellas and The Departed.

Film Background and Cast

Based on Herbert Asbury’s 1927 non-fiction book The Gangs of New York, the 2002 film features a star-studded cast including Oscar-winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Liam Neeson, and Stephen Graham.

Plot Summary

The story centers on Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), an orphaned Irish-American in 19th-century New York City. He returns to the Five Points neighborhood seeking vengeance against William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting (Day-Lewis), the anti-immigrant gang leader who killed his father (Neeson).

“Vallon knows that revenge can only be attained by infiltrating Cutting’s inner circle. Amsterdam’s journey becomes a fight for personal survival and to find a place for the Irish people in 1860s New York.”

Production Challenges

Gangs of New York was a longtime passion project for Scorsese but faced a difficult production process with extended shooting schedules and budget overruns. Additionally, reports suggest producer Harvey Weinstein insisted on edits, and there may be an unreleased longer version that more fully reflects Scorsese’s original vision.

Author’s summary: The film is a compelling historical gangster drama illustrating a young Irish-American’s quest for revenge amid 1860s New York’s violent gang rivalries, marked by notable performances and a complex production history.

JOE — 2025-11-08