APUSH Q2 EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE REVIEW
Juhi Kapoor
Ms. Toneatti
AP US History / Pd. 7
January 23, 2015
Quarter Two – Extra Credit Movie Review on “Gangs of New York”
If a movie states, “based on a true story”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all history or facts portrayed in the movie are true. Most of the time directors of the movies place such words in the beginning of the movie to gain more support of the public and depict instances that may or may not be one hundred percent accurate. Taking history down a creative route can have its positive notes and its negative. Portraying history in a movie allows filmmakers to make a point about a modern issue or promote an ongoing historical topic. Just exemplifying history in a movie, doesn’t depict the fact that it is accurate. “Gangs of New York ” directed by Martin Scorsese in 2002, and set in 1863, explains the Irish immigration and ongoing Civil War. This movie is quiet t historically accurate, but still has some minor inaccuracies.
The movie starts with the main character’s story in 1863, as he returns to the Five Points from an orphanage in which he spent most of his childhood. Amsterdam Valon’s (the main character), father was a Catholic Priest, and leader of an Irish immigrant group called the Dead Rabbits. His father was killed by Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting, a Native American Protestant leader. Therefore, Valon returns to the Five Points to retaliate his father’s death by killing the Butcher. During his attempts, Amsterdam Valon fell in love with a Native “pickpocket”, Jenny. The film evolves with Amsterdam getting closer under his enemy’s wings and finally revealing his motives and identity, thus leading to the 1863 Draft Riot. Eventually, the Irish win because their leader kills the Natives' leader. First of all, there are several reasons as to why the movie is historically accurate. The birth of the actual Gangs against New York can be credited to the Five Points neighborhood. This neighborhood became home to many Irish immigrants and the
Ms. Toneatti
AP US History / Pd. 7
January 23, 2015
Quarter Two – Extra Credit Movie Review on “Gangs of New York”
If a movie states, “based on a true story”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all history or facts portrayed in the movie are true. Most of the time directors of the movies place such words in the beginning of the movie to gain more support of the public and depict instances that may or may not be one hundred percent accurate. Taking history down a creative route can have its positive notes and its negative. Portraying history in a movie allows filmmakers to make a point about a modern issue or promote an ongoing historical topic. Just exemplifying history in a movie, doesn’t depict the fact that it is accurate. “Gangs of New York ” directed by Martin Scorsese in 2002, and set in 1863, explains the Irish immigration and ongoing Civil War. This movie is quiet t historically accurate, but still has some minor inaccuracies.
The movie starts with the main character’s story in 1863, as he returns to the Five Points from an orphanage in which he spent most of his childhood. Amsterdam Valon’s (the main character), father was a Catholic Priest, and leader of an Irish immigrant group called the Dead Rabbits. His father was killed by Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting, a Native American Protestant leader. Therefore, Valon returns to the Five Points to retaliate his father’s death by killing the Butcher. During his attempts, Amsterdam Valon fell in love with a Native “pickpocket”, Jenny. The film evolves with Amsterdam getting closer under his enemy’s wings and finally revealing his motives and identity, thus leading to the 1863 Draft Riot. Eventually, the Irish win because their leader kills the Natives' leader. First of all, there are several reasons as to why the movie is historically accurate. The birth of the actual Gangs against New York can be credited to the Five Points neighborhood. This neighborhood became home to many Irish immigrants and the