Gangs of New York (2002, USA) C-166m. SCOPE *** D: Martin Scorsese. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, David Hemmings, Barbara Bouchet, Martin Scorsese. Revenge drama set in New York City of the mid-19th century. DiCaprio's father is killed in warfare between rivalling gangs, and the boy grows up with the wish to take revenge on the murderer Day-Lewis. The man is feared and has great political power - using it to make propaganda against Irish immigrants and Africans. Longish but worthwhile, especially because of Day-Lewis' brilliant performance (as Bill the Butcher) and Scorsese's feel for the time period, which excuse the rather simple, familiar plotline. Cowritten by Steven Zaillian. Photographed by Michael Ballhaus, edited by Thelma Schoonmaker.