Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz in 'Gangs of New York'

Thirty years from conception to silver screen and based as loose as a hangman's noose on Herbert Asbury's 1928 chronicle Gangs of New York, Marty's picture comes into focus in an era when political criminals without conscience ruled the rat-ridden streets of Manhattan. Think back to when the smell of opium perfumed the night air and a harlot's whisper from a darkened alleyway could lead to a night of rapture or a knocked-in noggin. No, not the Dinkins years, Scorsese covered that in Bringing Out the Dead. Gangs instead is a Gladiator-worthy saga of survival, betrayal, and honor. Oh yes, and of course revenge. God, I love revenge, don't you?

So here we are on 1860s' mean streets – ironically where New York City's courthouse stands today – with Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), the orphaned offspring of Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson). Vallon Sr. was the last leader of the Dead Rabbits mob that represented the neighborhood's Irish immigrants, an honorable but unwanted lot who desired nothing more than to escape the famine of their homeland and a chance at the much-talked-about overseas "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" thing. Apparently, some émigrés are more eligible than others for America's freedoms though. Or so it appears when at the movie's opening, Priest is killed by Natives leader Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis in what should be this year's Oscar-winning Best Actor performance). Maybe if Priest had chosen a livelier name for his group, like the Jets, Sharks or Sopranos, his people would have stood a better chance.

With "The blood stays on the blade" and "Never look away" being the two credos that young Amsterdam is told on the day of his father's death, it's small wonder he comes back to the really old neighborhood from the state orphanage 16 years later with one thought on his mind. And it ain't "Where did I leave my Gameboy?" Posing as a new kid off the potato truck, with Machiavellian cunning and National Hockey League fighting ability, soon Amsterdam charms and chucks his way into and up the ranks of Bill the Butcher's gang. Though while Amsterdam is finding his place as the Butcher's right arm, he is also covertly planning to avenge his father on the night the Butcher celebrates the Native's victory over the Dead Rabbits.

Just in time to keep Gangs of New York's hooligan stew from getting too grim, sassy streetwalker Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz) makes the scene, capturing Amsterdam's fancy. She manages little else, however, once he discovers she's gone for a swing or three on Bill the Butcher's meat hook. Fret not though, ruffian romance fans, for Amsterdam and Jenny sort out their differences (surprise!). But will she stand by to watch him most certainly die as he plans his final showdown with the Butcher?

And as if this weren't enough romance and justifiable homicide, along comes a history lesson in the form of four days of mayhem involving the little known Civil War Draft Riots. According to the first articles of conscription, anyone (rich or poor) could buy their way out of the draft – and near-certain death in a Gettysburg ditch – for the modest sum of $300. That is $300,000 by today's standards. You can imagine how well this went over in the less-well-to-do parts of town. Got fire insurance?

As compressed and condensed as Gangs of New York reads on paper, it expands exquisitely on screen to unreel a timely tale of honorable people, divided by faith. It entertains and keeps alive a piece of history that could easily have faded from the history books into which it was never written. Granted it's a tad gruesome and at 168 minutes, about a reel too long, but if you have the stomach and the attention span, Gangs is worth twice its ticket price, plus the cost of aspirin to ease your aching butt afterwards.