Martin Scorsese's careerlong exploration of the role of violence in American society culminates in "Gangs of New York." The view here is that brutality and corruption played midwives to the American nation, that the American dream of liberty from European despotism, monarchy and aristocratic privilege ran afoul of the New World vices of bigotry and anarchy almost immediately. Astonishing and audacious, the film certainly creates a kind of perverse beauty and excitement out of its horrors.

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