Do you love talking about Films? Are you trying to watch more films in English?
Thinking in English will host the monthly Film Club: Premiere
at 18:00 (UTC) on Wednesday 26th March!
Join us to discuss… Gangs of New York!
You can find more details on how to participate on Patreon and Discord!
Film Club – Gangs of New York – Conversation Questions –
Useful Resources – Vocabulary – Example Answers
What is the Thinking in English Film Club?
The Film Club is a great opportunity for Thinking in English Patreon members to practice their conversational English by discussing a film with other members.
Members meet every week on Wednesdays at 6pm UK Time to discuss Films and TV. Most weeks there is no specific topic and you do not have to watch or prepare anything before joining. It’s just a free chat about films!
However at the end of each month we have a special Film Club: Premiere where we discuss one specific film. Earlier in the month, members have voted for what film they want to discuss and just like in the normal Conversation Clubs we will provide 10 questions about the film to help to inspire you.
You can find these (and some other useful resources) below…
For our next Film Club: Premiere on Wednesday 26th March, we will be discussing Gangs of New York (2002). This historical crime drama, directed by Martin Scorsese, is about New York City during the American Civil War.
Gangs of New York (2002)
What is Gangs of New York?
Here is a movie description for Gangs of New York
Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002) is a historical crime drama set in 1860s New York City’s Five Points, a dangerous neighborhood filled with gang violence. The story follows a young Irish man named Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), who seeks revenge against Bill “the Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis) for killing his father.
Amsterdam joins Bill’s gang and starts to gain his trust while tensions rise on the streets as young men are being conscripted to fight in the Civil War. We are also introduced to Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz), a clever pickpocket with a unique connection to both men.
The film highlights the hatred, anti-immigrant sentiment, and ethnic warfare that took place in New York City during this period. The film is famous for the powerful acting performances but it feels particularly relevant now due to its themes of mass immigration, the outbreak of war, and philosophy of power.
Join us for the Film Club Premiere on 26th March to share your thoughts!
Conversation Questions and Talking Points!
- Did you enjoy the film? Why or why not?
- How does the character of Amsterdam (Di Caprio) change throughout the film?
- How does Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz) influence the story? Do you think she is an important character?
- What scene was the most visually striking for you? Why?
- Is Bill the Butcher completely evil? Does he have any good qualities?
- Did you like the setting (New York in the 1860s)? What stood out to you about the set or costumes?
- What was your favourite acting performance in the film? Why?
- Do you see any connections between the world of the film and the world today?
- Bill says that he has survived due to the “the spectacle of fearsome acts”. He says that fear is all that “preserves the order of things”. What do you think about this philosophy of power?
- Have you seen other Martin Scorsese films? How does this one compare?
And finally, how would you describe the film to someone who has never seen it before? Would you recommend it? Why?
Do you have any more thoughts or questions? Why not prepare 1 or 2 more of your own questions or opinions about the film?!
Useful Resources
To help you prepare for the Film Club, you might want to look at the following useful online resources:
IMDb Page
IMDb page where you can find everything about the film including: Videos, Characters, Cast and Crew, Plot Synopsis, Quotes, Reviews and more!
YouTube Analysis of Bill The Butcher
Popular YouTube channel Nerdstalgic explores this villain and Daniel Day Lewis’s performance
“It is very good but not great”
Review by legendary film critic Roger Ebert
Vocabulary
Gangs of New York Vocabulary
Learn and practice vocabulary for this Conversation Club!.
Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
General Film Vocabulary
Learn and practice vocabulary for this Thinking in English Conversation Club.
Practice using 5 different study games and activities – including writing, listening, and memorisation techniques!
Flashcards
Matching Game
Learning Game
Test Yourself
Listening and Spelling
Example Answers
9. Bill says that he has survived due to the “the spectacle of fearsome acts”. He says that fear is all that “preserves the order of things”. What do you think about this philosophy of power?
B1 Example Answer
B2 Example Answer
C1 Example Answer
See you all at the Film Club!
