If Gangs of New York is remembered for anything, it's probably Daniel Day-Lewis in a top hat. As a fearsome gang leader cutting a swathe through bloody street battles and equally callous political intrigue, Day-Lewis was rightly Oscar-nominated for an unforgettably intense performance.
But 2002’s Gangs of New York is more than just a showcase for Day-Lewis and his mighty moustache. It's a stunning piece of historical cinema, plunging you into the past at street level. Director Martin Scorsese based the film on a non-fiction book about the criminal tribes of 19th-century New York, and the movie brings the history alive with fascinating detail, depth and texture.
