History YMMV / GangsOfNewYork

* AwardSnub: Out of the ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s that ''Gangs of New York'' was nominated for, it won none of them. This makes it one of only four movies to get a double-digit number of nominations without a win.[[note]]The other three movies are ''Literature/TheColorPurple'' and ''Film/TheTurningPoint'', both of which got eleven Academy Award nominations and won zero, and Creator/MartinScorsese's later film ''Film/TheIrishman'', which also got ten nominations but no wins.[[/note]]

* EvilIsCool: Bill Cutting is a vicious, xenophobic warlord and murderer. He's also cuttingly funny, [[MagnificentBastard twistedly ingenious]], ''just'' [[NobleDemon noble]] [[WorthyOpponent enough]] for the audience not to hate him, and oozes charisma thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis' magnificent acting. The former part doesn't erase the latter, in fact, if anything, it ''adds'' to his appeal. He has an ''American Eagle patterned glass eye'' for crying out loud, how could you not admire that?

* MisaimedFandom: Bill's [[MagnificentBastard stylish]] [[EvilIsCool awesomeness]] aside, check the comments section of any clip from the movie in which he's featured and you'll find a rather depressingly high number of commenters enthusiastically agreeing with his [[DeliberateValuesDissonance views]] [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain on immigration]] (and doing so [[PoesLaw in complete seriousness]]).

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Some have interpreted Bill's "fear" speech to Amsterdam as his way of telling Amsterdam he knew who he was - specifically, he points out Amsterdam's "murderous rage" when he is insulted, then brings up Priest (and reminding his son of his death) despite there being not much of a reason to do so. He also calls the assassin who tried to sneak attack him earlier a "coward", which some have interpreted as Bill's warning to Amsterdam to not try a similar tactic if he does take revenge on him. [[TemptingFate Unfortunately, Amsterdam seems to have missed the message.]]

* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/DanielDayLewis played UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln in ''Film/{{Lincoln}}''. Extremely hilarious when you think about Bill the Butcher shouting "Down with the Union!" during a performance of ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'' and throwing a knife through a picture of Lincoln earlier in the film. Made even funnier with the fact Day-Lewis was nominated for Best Actor Oscars for both roles and won with Lincoln instead of Gangs.

* HarsherInHindsight: The vicious xenophobia of the Natives was already disturbing to watch but becomes even more so after the 2016 Presidential Election and beyond.

* SoOkayItsAverage: While on its own it is considered a good movie, this is usually considered to be one of Martin Scorsese's weaker works. Usually, mind you. However, the movie has grown in reputation since. It also has many a BigNameFan like Creator/GeorgeMacDonaldFraser.

* AwardSnub: Out of the ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s that ''Gangs of New York'' was nominated for, it won none of them. This makes it one of only three movies to get a double-digit number of nominations without a win.[[note]]The other two movies are ''Literature/TheColorPurple'' and ''Film/TheTurningPoint'', both of which got eleven Academy Award nominations and won zero.[[/note]]

* MisaimedFandom: Bill's [[MagnificentBastard stylish]] [[EvilIsCool awesomeness]] aside, check the comments section of any clip from the movie in which he's featured and you'll find a rather depressingly high number of commenters enthusiastically agreeing with his [[DeliberateValuesDissonance views]] [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain on immigration]] (and doing so [[PoesLaw in complete seriousness.]])

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Happy Jack, Monk [=McGinn=], and Hellcat Maggie. The last one all the more impressive for actually being [[RealityIsUnrealistic a real]] [[AluminumChristmasTrees person.]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Bill's actions as he chooses how to handle TheReveal concerning Amsterdam's true identity are much given to this. He begins with his brand of savage, sophisticated anger during the brutal rendition of "The Butcher's Apprentice", then composes himself before offering up a heartfelt toast to 'Priest' Vallon, honouring Amsterdam's father with deep respect after nearly killing his girlfriend. The entire scene could be interpreted as Bill struggling how to handle the news of that his favoured protege -- a young man like a son to him -- is planning to put him in the ground, taking out his feelings of betrayal on Jen but ultimately [[SecretTestOfCharacter giving Amsterdam a chance to choose whether or not to make his move]].

* HarsherInHindsight: The vicious xenophobia of the Natives was already disturbing to watch but becomes even more so after the 2016 Presidential Election and beyond.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Bill's actions as he chooses how to handle TheReveal concerning Amsterdam's true identity are much given to this. He begins with his brand of savage, sophisticated anger during the brutal rendition of "The Butcher's Apprentice", then composes himself before offering up a heartfelt toast to 'Priest' Vallon, honouring Amsterdam's father with deep respect after nearly killing his girlfriend. The entire scene could be interpreted as Bill struggling how to handle the news of that his favoured protege -- a young man like son to him -- is planning to put him in the ground, taking out his feelings of betrayal on Jen but ultimately [[SecretTestOfCharacter giving Amsterdam a chance to choose whether or not to make his move]].

-->'''Bill:''' Amsterdam? [[UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi I'm New York.]]

* AwardSnub: Out of the ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s that ''Gangs of New York'' was nominated for, it won none of them. This makes it one of only three motives to get a double-digit number of nominations without a win.[[note]]The other two movies are ''Literature/TheColorPurple'' and ''Film/TheTurningPoint'', both of which got eleven Academy Award nominations and won zero.[[/note]]

* AwardSnub: Out of the ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s that ''Gangs of New York'' was nominated for, it won none of them. This makes it one of only three motives to get a double-digit number of nominations without a win (the other two being ''Literature/TheColorPurple'' and ''Film/TheTurningPoint'').

* AwardSnub: The film was nominated for ten UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s. It won none of them.

-->'''Bill:''' Amsterdam? [[IAmTheNoun I'm New York.]]

----

* TheScrappy: Jenny, as well as Cameron Diaz's performance, is generally regarded to be the worst bit of the film.

* SpiritualAntithesis: To ''Literature/TheAgeOfInnocence'', the other Old New York Scorsese-Daniel Day-Lewis movie, which is set 10 years later.
* {{Tearjerker}}: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-8Lu7MRjQs The ending.]]

* AdaptationDisplacement: The nonfiction book was a famous bestseller in its day and indeed in its year of publication (1928) created a wave of interest in what was, even then, a bygone era and was highly regarded by the likes of Creator/JorgeLuisBorges. Scorsese had wanted to adapt it since the 1970s.

* EvilIsCool: Bill Cutting is a vicious, xenophobic warlord and murderer. He's also cuttingly funny, [[MagnificentBastard twistedly ingenious]], ''just'' [[NobleDemon noble]] [[WorthyOpponent enough]] for the audience not to hate him, and oozes charisma thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis' magnificent acting. He has an ''American Eagle patterned glass eye'' for crying out loud. The former part doesn't erase the latter, in fact, if anything, it ''adds'' to his appeal.

* AwesomeMusic: Music/{{U2}}'s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkajMup_Nqg The Hands That Built America]]".