Gangs of New York Film Analysis
Identification with characters in movies enhances the spectator’s effective impact. The film Gangs of New York is not only a mere drama but also a substitute of the spectator’s attitudes and beliefs. The film primarily follows the life of Bill, a gang leader nicknamed ‘Bill the Butcher.’ Everyone would like to earn recognition from his or her peers for having an outstanding ability. Bill’s character evokes a sense of liking. The protagonist, Amsterdam, a son of Bill’s butchered victim enters a confrontation with Bill to take revenge on his own father . Every time a person crosses our paths, we always desire a revenge. The sweetness attached to revenge would obviously allure any sensitive spectator. Vallon, a victim of Bill in the film draws pity from the audience due to his killing. A person may be tempted to think that the character was innocent just out of compassion. Sirocco helps Amsterdam by familiarizing him with the local gangs. This would later help the avenger to perpetuate his mission. Jenny Everdeane to some extent also helped Amsterdam when he was wounded. She helped him recover back to health . Both Sirocco and Jenny are likable for the role they played in the accomplishment of Amsterdam’s mission.
The film Gangs of New York portrays the American past as a story surrounded by blood-soaked and violent events. It was a copy of the years of civil war when the gangs killed their rivals to clear their paths. The battles in the film are very ferocious involving the use of swords, knives, and cleavers. The ferocity of the battles is inhumane and characterized by slain bodies including that of Amsterdam’s father. The children in the era are too vengeful and violent as well. Amsterdam hid the knife that had been used on his father with the aim of using it against their enemy. All the characters in the movie are thirsty for blood an act that is motivated by hate and revenge. The film closes with an image of present New York which pictures the image of the World Trade Center. The contemporary close in the movie leaves the audience with a reminder and appreciation of the modern, calm, civilized New York.
Conventionally, every historical drama has various types of accuracy that can be discussed. The movie is thematically accurate according to the setting. Although the details are varied, it accurately portrays the struggles an attitudes of the people at the period. The cast excellently shows the struggles encountered by the Irish in New York. Scorsese did an outstanding job in creating a perfect picture of the life in Five Points. Close attention was paid to the accents and slangs, costumes and the set design to portray life in the Five Points. The film well depicts the riots in the setting among the Protestants, the Catholics, the Blacks and the Irish . The movie is however not factually accurate. The events in the film are apparently not real. The people in the film are also not real, and the fight could be much exaggerated. The film follows the lives of fictional characters. Generally, the film has some inaccuracies just like any other historical film. However, the film has more truisms contextually.
Bibliography
2002. Gangs of New York. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Performed by Jay Cocks.
