America was born in the streets

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, John C. Reilly, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die." - Amsterdam Vallon

Why watch this? Bill the Butcher - damn, what a character.

Plot Summary: In 1862, young Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points district of New York City, seeking revenge against Bill "the Butcher" Cutting, who murdered his father years ago. Amsterdam infiltrates Bill's powerful gang, navigating the volatile and corrupt streets ruled by rival factions and politicians like William "Boss" Tweed. Amidst this simmering tension and personal vendetta, the city itself teeters on the brink of erupting into the historic Civil War Draft Riots.

Dad's Preview: I'll put this Scorsese film up against all his others including the Godfather films and Goodfellas (1990). This has a story that is rich and so well performed. It takes place in 1863 New York City, in the slum of the Five Points. There two rival gangs, one Catholic, the other Protestant, have been at war for years. There are stellar performances from Day-Lewis, DiCaprio, and Diaz, but it's Scorsese rich story that stars in this historical gem.

Touchstone Pictures, Alberto Grimaldi Productions; Miramax Films