Gory but true.

Rating: Null/10 (17 January 2003)

Aside from being a bloody film, I wondered at the historical accuracy of the film versus what Scorsese's creativity brought to it. Could 1846 New York be really like this? As a historian/producer with 3 EMMY's, I got the 1928 book the movie was based on. And it's right on. Back then even more took place. Finding "5 Points" on a New York Historical Society map was fun. It's interesting to parallel those days with a message for today. When you have corruption in government be it city or Federal, the decline in integrity and social values trickles down to all levels of society. I wondered at first if this film had any social redeeming values. And it does. New York evolved thru the centuries with many vices including Plato's Retreat, Studio 54 and The Playboy Club and a lot goes on to this day with this far Western European city.