#michael vallon

[vintagewarhol]

[ulrichgebert]

Statt Bibelspektakel zur Abwechslung mal ein Ritterspektakel mit Charlton Heston. Der prinzipientreue El Cid eint seinem zweifelhaften König zum Trotz die Spanier samt verständigen Mauren gegen Islamistische Welteroberungspläne. So ist recht! Nur die gute Sophia hat nicht so recht was von ihm. Am Ende ist er tot, aber legendär und reitet dem Sonnenuntergang entgegen, in Technicolor und ..hm.. Supertechnirama.

[brokehorrorfan]

Cliffhanger will be released on Steelbook 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital on May 30 via Sony. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Sylvester Stallone stars in the 1993 action thriller.

Renny Harlin (Deep Blue Sea, Die Hard 2) directs from a script by Stallone and Michael France (Fantastic Four, Hulk). John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Leon Robinson, Paul Winfield, Ralph Waite, and Rex Linn also star.

Cliffhanger has been newly restored in 4K, approved by Harlin, with Dolby Vision/HDR and Dolby Atmos and 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio options. Special features are listed below.

Disc 1 - 4K UHD:

17 never-before-seen and previously available deleted scenes (new)

Disc 2 - Blu-ray:

Audio commentary by director Renny Harlin and and actor/co-writer Sylvester Stallone

Audio commentary by editor Frank Urioste, special effects artists Neil Krepela and John Bruno, and production designer John Vallone

Introduction from director Renny Harlin

Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger featurette

Special Effects featurette

Deleted scenes with introduction by Renny Harlin

Storyboard comparisons

Theatrical trailer

For Rocky Mountain Rescue, the mission is almost routine: locate five climbers. With the woman he loves (Janine Turner) and his best friend (Michael Rooker), Gabe Walker (Sylvester Stallone) braves the icy peaks only to discover that the distress call is really a trap set by merciless international terrorist Eric Qualen (John Lithgow). Now millions of dollars and their own lives hang in the balance. Against explosive firepower, bitter cold, and dizzying heights, Walker must outwit Qualen in a deadly game of hide-and-seek.

Pre-order Cliffhanger.

[byneddiedingo]

Christopher Walken in Brainstorm (Douglas Trumbull, 1983)

Cast: Christopher Walken, Natalie Wood, Louise Fletcher, Cliff Robertson, Jordan Christopher, Donald Hotton, Alan Fudge, Joe Dorsey, Bill Morey, Jason Lively, Georgianne Walken. Screenplay: Bruce Joel Rubin, Robert Stitzel, Philip Frank Messina. Cinematography: Richard Yuricich. Production design: John Vallone. Film editing: Freeman A. Davies, Edward Warschilka. Music: James Horner. 

Brainstorm is a sci-tech thriller based on a premise familiar to the genre: Brilliant scientists come up with a breakthrough and face the threat that it will be misused by nefarious forces. In older films, the nefarious forces tended to be foreign ones, Nazis or Commies. Today, however, they usually come from our own corporate-military-industrial complex. Working together, Dr. Michael Brace (Christopher Walken) and Dr. Lillian Reynolds (Louise Fletcher) have created a way to transmit the brainwaves of one person to another, stimulating not only the visual and audible sensations but also the bodily ones -- respiratory, muscular, etc. The transmissions can also be recorded and stored. It's virtual reality gone whole hog, especially after Brace's wife, Karen (Natalie Wood), an industrial designer, comes up with a snazzy little headset. Brace and Reynolds are hopeful for all sorts of peaceful uses of the technology, but to get funding for it, they have to agree with the head of the corporation for which they work, Alex Terson (Cliff Robertson), that it can be shown to investors. And you know who has the money to fund such a project. The inventors are dismayed at the prospect of misuse, but they put up with it until the real dangers of the invention show up. A researcher records himself having an orgasm and gives it to another man who plays it on a loop, sending himself into a coma from the experience. And then Reynolds herself, a chain smoker, has a heart attack and dies, but not before hauling herself to the device and recording the experience. Brace discovers the tape and almost dies playing it before he's able to disconnect. Finding that the company has kept the tape and has actually killed someone with it and is experimenting with other malign uses for the technology, Brace and Karen team up to find ways to stop it. It's a worthy premise, but Trumbull, a noted special effects director making his first (and only) feature in the director's chair, encountered a perfect storm of difficulties, the chief of which was Natalie Wood's death in 1981. Wood's major scenes in Brainstorm had already been filmed, but MGM, which was in financial difficulties, pulled the plug on the project. Fortunately, the production was insured by Lloyd's of London, which stepped in and allowed Trumbull to complete the movie. Wood's sister, Lana, doubled for her in the remaining scenes. Still, Brainstorm was not a critical or commercial success. There's a funny sequence in which Brace causes the robots on the assembly line to go haywire, and Fletcher's performance is great. Wood is fine, but Walken, a specialist in offbeat characters, seems miscast. The subplot, which involves the Braces using the technology to communicate their feelings to each other and repair their fraying marriage, is tedious and sentimental. And the concluding sequence, in which we find out what Reynolds saw when she was dying, is almost inevitably a letdown.   

[ulkaralakbarova]

A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Jack Cates: Nick Nolte Reggie Hammond: Eddie Murphy Elaine: Annette O’Toole Haden: Frank McRae Albert Ganz: James Remar Luther: David Patrick Kelly Billy Bear: Sonny Landham Ben Kehoe: Brion James Rosalie, Hostage Girl: Kerry Sherman Algren: Jonathan Banks Vanzant: James Keane Frizzy, Hotel Desk Clerk: Tara King Lisa, Blonde Hooker: Greta Blackburn Casey: Margot Rose Sally: Denise Crosby Candy: Olivia Brown Young Cop: Todd Allen Thin Cop: Bill Dearth Big Cop: Ned Dowd Old Cop: Jim Haynie Detective: Jack Thibeau Plainclothes Man: Jon St. Elwood Ruth: Clare Torao Policewoman: Sandy Martin Bob: Matt Landers Cowboy Bartender: Peter Jason First Cop: Bill Cross Second Cop: Chris Mulkey Parking Lot Attendant: Marcelino Sánchez Road Gang Guard: Bennie E. Dobbins Road Gang Guard: Walter Scott Road Gang Guard: W.T. Zacha Prison Guard: Loyd Catlett Prison Guard: B. G. Fisher Prison Guard: Reid Cruickshanks Duty Sergeant: R. D. Call Hooker: Brenda Venus Hooker: Gloria Gifford Torchy’s Patron: Nick Dimitri Torchy’s Patron: John Dennis Johnston Torchy’s Patron: Rock A. Walker Gas Station Attendant: Dave Moordigian Security Guard: J. Wesley Huston Cop with Gun: Gary Pettinger Bar Girl: Marquerita Wallace Bar Girl: Angela Robinson Witherspoon Bartender: Jack Lightsy Henry Wong: John Hauk Interrogator: Bob Yanez Leroy: Clint Smith Gang Member: Luis Contreras Cowgirl Dancer: Suzanne M. Regard Vroman’s Dancer: Ola Ray Vroman’s Dancer: Bjaye Turner Indian Hooker: Begonya Plaza Film Crew: Original Music Composer: James Horner Producer: Lawrence Gordon Editor: Freeman A. Davies Production Design: John Vallone Director of Photography: Ric Waite Editor: Mark Warner Writer: Walter Hill Casting: Judith Holstra Editor: Billy Weber Producer: Joel Silver Sound Editor: John Dunn Sound Editor: Tim Mangini Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Donald O. Mitchell Costume Design: Marilyn Vance Sound Editor: Teri E. Dorman Supervising Sound Effects Editor: Richard L. Anderson Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Rick Kline Executive Producer: D. Constantine Conte Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Gregg Landaker Makeup Artist: Edouard F. Henriques Makeup Artist: Michael Germain Supervising Sound Effects Editor: Stephen Hunter Flick ADR Editor: Mark A. Mangini Stunt Double: Terry Leonard Stunts: Nick Dimitri Writer: Roger Spottiswoode Writer: Larry Gross Writer: Steven E. de Souza Set Decoration: Richard C. Goddard Hairstylist: Dagmar Loesch Stunt Double: Vince Deadrick Jr. Stunts: Tony Brubaker Special Effects: Joseph P. Mercurio Stunts: Bruce Paul Barbour Stunts: Larry Holt Stunt Double: John Sherrod Stunts: Jerry Brutsche Stunts: Billy C. Chandler Stunt Driver: Conrad E. Palmisano Stunt Coordinator: Bennie E. Dobbins Gaffer: Carl Boles Stunts: Walter Scott Movie Reviews: John Chard: You switch from an armed robber to a pimp, you’re all set. A hard as nails cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down an escaped convict cop killer. The mismatched buddy buddy formula exploded onto the screen here in a ball of violence, profanity and pin sharp one liners. It also launched Eddie Murphy into 1980s stardom. Directed by Walter Hill and starring Nick Nolte alongside Murphy as part of an electrifying black and white double act, it’s unrelenting in pace and bad attitude. It could have been so different though, with the likes of Stallone, Reynolds, Pryor and Hines attached at various times for lead parts, it now is written in folklore that Murphy got the break and grasped it with both hands (he was actually fired at one point mind!). Thankfully the problems behind the scenes were resolved to give us a classic of its type. A big success for Paramount it paved the way for more choice same formula pictures in the decade, but few were able to be so course and daring with the racial divide explosions. Murphy is outstanding, quick as an A.K. 47 in vocal d...

[alexlacquemanne]

Juin MMXXIII

Films

Indiana Jones et le Royaume du crâne de cristal (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (2008) de Steven Spielberg avec Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett, John Hurt, Ray Winstone et Jim Broadbent

La vie est belge (Brabançonne) (2014) de Vincent Bal avec Arthur Dupont, Amaryllis Uitterlinden, Jos Verbist, David Cantens, Koen Van Impe, Tom Audenaert, Ivan Pecnik et Veerle Eyckermans

La Nuit américaine (1973) de François Truffaut avec Jacqueline Bisset, Valentina Cortese, Dani, Alexandra Stewart, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Jean Champion, Jean-Pierre Léaud et François Truffaut

Le Trésor de la Sierra Madre (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre) (1948) de John Huston avec Humphrey Bogart, Tim Holt, Walter Huston, Alfonso Bedoya, Barton MacLane et Bruce Bennett

Adieu Gary (2008) de Nassim Amaouche avec Jean-Pierre Bacri, Dominique Reymond, Yasmine Belmadi, Mhamed Arezki, Sabrina Ouazani, Hab-Eddine Sebiane et Abdelhafid Metalsi

La ciociara (1960) de Vittorio De Sica avec Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Carlo Ninchi, Andrea Checchi, Pupella Maggio, Renato Salvatori et Raf Vallone

La mort n'était pas au rendez-vous (Conflict) (1945) de Curtis Bernhardt avec Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith, Sydney Greenstreet, Rose Hobart, Charles Drake et Grant Mitchell

The Flash (2023) d'Andrés Muschietti avec Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Maribel Verdu, Ben Affleck, Ron Livingston, Jeremy Irons et Gal Gadot

En cas de malheur (1958) de Claude Autant-Lara avec Jean Gabin, Brigitte Bardot, Edwige Feuillère, Franco Interlenghi, Nicole Berger, Madeleine Barbulée, Annick Allières et Jacques Clancy

Fahrenheit 451 (1966) de François Truffaut avec Oskar Werner, Julie Christie, Cyril Cusack, Anton Diffring, Jeremy Spenser, Bee Duffell et Noel Davis

Dieu seul le sait (Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison) (1957) de John Huston avec Deborah Kerr et Robert Mitchum

Séries

James May : Notre Homme en Italie

Dieu se fait pardonner - Funeste asile - Matière noire - Du très très bon fromage - Du pesto ! - Adieu, Bim

Friends Saison 8, 9

Celui qui se faisait interviewer - Celui qui animait un jeu stupide - Celui qui passait un entretien d'embauche - Celui qui assistait à la première - Celui qui avait un bébé : 1re partie - Celui qui avait un bébé : 2e partie - Celui qui n'avait demandé personne en mariage - Celui qui acceptait sa mutation - Celui qui allait chez le pédiatre - Celui qui regardait des requins - Celui qui avait fumé - Celui qui était le plus drôle - Celui qui faisait rire sa fille - Celui qui était vexé - Celui qui n'osait pas dire la vérité - Celui qui passait Noël à Tulsa - Celui qui ne voulait plus de bébé - Celui qui défendait sa nounou - Celui qui se faisait épiler - Celui qui se faisait poser un lapin - Celui qui se faisait agresser - Celui qui prêtait de l'argent - Celui qui envoyait des e-mails - Celui qui voulait gagner à la loterie - Celui qui piquait dans les hôtels - Celui qui allait à une soirée privée - Celui qui faisait un test de fécondité - Celui qui avait besoin d'un donneur - Celui qui allait à la Barbade

Inspecteur Barnaby Saison 9

La Maison hantée - Lettres mortelles - La Course à l'héritage - L'Assassin de l'ombre - Quatre enterrements et un mariage - Ces dames de la campagne - Complément d'enquête

Coffre à Catch

#118 : Cody Rhodes : le futur American Nightmare à la ECW ! - #119 : En route vers Cyber Sunday 2008 ! - #120 : Evan Bourne brille presque autant que SilentStorm ! - #121 : D-Generation X invitée au Dirt Sheet !

Castle Saison 2

Tuez le messager - Les Dessous de la loi - Doubles vies - La cinquième balle

Affaires sensibles

Silvio Berlusconi et le scandale du Rubygate - Kadhafi à Paris, la folle visite d'un dictateur - Suzy et mon gros loup : le mystère AZF - Le cimentier Lafarge en Syrie - Waco : une secte dans l'enfer des flammes - Incendie du tunnel du Mont-Blanc : autopsie d’une catastrophe annoncée - Dropped : tournage mortel sur une téléréalité

Maîtres et valets Saison 1, 2

Nouveau départ - Ils ne passeront pas - Bouleversements - Un pays lointain dont on ne sait rien - Le Prix de l'amour - L'Idéal féminin - Indépendance et soumission - Dernière valse - Jours sombres

The Grand Tour Saison 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Eurocrash - The Grand Tour présente… Lochdown - The Grand Tour présente… Carnage à Trois - Scotch Single Malt - Les garçons du Niagara - La Loi du plus fort - Opéra, art et donuts

Visitors Saison 1

Episode 1 - Episode 2 - Episode 3 - Episode 4 - Episode 5 - Episode 6 - Episode 7 - Episode 8

Spectacles

Lalo Schifrin, Mission : Impossible (2023) par l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France

Ce que femme veut (1981) de Etienne Ray et Alfred Savoir avec Catherine Allary, Georges Beller, Yolande Folliot, Patrick Burget, Raoul Delfosse et Sonia Sariel

Un couple magique (2023) de Laurent Ruquier avec Stéphane Plaza, Valérie Mairesse et Jeanfi Janssens

Dire Straits Live at Wembley Arena, London (1985)

Deep Purple au Hellfest (2017)

Drôle De Genre (2022) de Jade-Rose Parker avec Victoria Abril, Lionnel Astier, Axel Huet et Jade-Rose Parker

Livres

Le Géant Ferré : La huitième merveille du monde de Bertrand Hébert et Pat Laprade

Détective Conan : Tome 10 de Gôshô Aoyama

Détective Conan : Tome 11 de Gôshô Aoyama

Spirou et Fantasio, Tome 33 : Virus de Tome et Janry

Il était une fois.. l'Homme, Tome 4 : Rome de Jean-Charles Gaudin, Jean Barbaud, Minte et Afroula Hadjiyannakis

Hero Corp, Tome 1 : Les origines de Simon Astier et Marco Failla

[lamilanomagazine]

Rete 4, in prima serata il 4 marzo “Il Padrino, epilogo: la morte di Michael Corleone”: la versione ufficiale del terzo capitolo.

Rete 4, in prima serata il 4 marzo “Il Padrino, epilogo: la morte di Michael Corleone”: la versione ufficiale del terzo capitolo.   Retequattro, sabato 4 marzo, in prime-time, offre al proprio pubblico una serata di vero, grande cinema, con la prima visione (in chiaro) della director’s cut del terzo capitolo della saga del Padrino: «Il Padrino, epilogo: la morte di Michael Corleone». «Una conclusione più appropriata», ha affermato Francis Ford Coppola, il regista italo-americano che ha vinto sei Oscar e altrettanti Golden Globe, assieme a svariati David di Donatello, Palma d'Oro, BAFTA e un Leone d'Oro alla carriera, a Venezia. Un uomo che, nel corso della formidabile carriera, ha diretto Apocalypse Now, come I ragazzi della 56esima strada e Dracula di Bram Stoker. Nel 2020, in occasione del 30esimo anniversario dell'uscita nelle sale, Coppola rilegge la conclusione della storia della famiglia Corleone con una versione della durata di 159 minuti (la prima era di 170’), modificando e restaurando l’opera originaria. Inizio e conclusione diversi, oltre a inquadrature differenti e una nuova partitura musicale: cambiamenti sostanziali, quindi, per la necessità, secondo Coppola, di «svecchiare�� un film datato 1.990. Nel cast del film brilla Al Pacino, epico Michael Corleone, in compagnia di Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy García, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, Sofia Coppola, Raf Vallone, Helmut Berger, John Savage. Nel cast tecnico, soggetto e sceneggiatura sono di F.Ford Coppola e Mario Puzo; la casa di produzione è Paramount Pictures con Zoetrope Studios; le musiche sono di Carmine Coppola e Nino Rota; i costumi, infine, sono opera di Milena Canonero.... #notizie #news #breakingnews #cronaca #politica #eventi #sport #moda Read the full article

[wheelscomedyandmore]

Wednesday night, 1/25: TCM - Turner Classic Movies will feature this great original version with a very young Michael Caine and the 1st real Mini-Coopers. Great car action, chase and storyline. 🎞️ 🍿

[don-lichterman]

The Italian Job (Special Edition)

The Italian Job (Special Edition)

Price: (as of – Details) Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1 MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ G (General Audience) Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 5 x 1 inches; 5.92 Ounces Director ‏ : ‎ Peter Collinson Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 39 minutes Release date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2023 Actors ‏ : ‎ Michael Caine, Noël Coward, Benny Hill, Raf Vallone, Rossano Brazzi Studio ‏ : ‎ KL Studio Classics ASIN ‏…

[michigandrifter]

Marshal of Gunsmoke 1944

[fictitiousbeing]

I HAVE A TYPE

I am well aware that I have a type, and it's rather noticeable. However, with that being said, I still wanted to know just how similar my childhood obsessions are to one and other. So, I present 10 of my crushes from when I was roughly 13 and younger. I may have aged and matured since then, but I have found my taste in men to have remained the same.

***The following 10 men, or rather characters, were selected randomly from a plethora of contenders, and are presented in no particular order.

Part Two Part Three Part Four

Masterlist

1. Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr) in the Mummy (1999) and the Mummy Returns (2001).

Ardeth is a badass Medjai, who evidently has trouble guarding Hamunaptra and the Creature.

2. Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) in Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006).

Michael became the first of his kind and he looked good doing it.

3. Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) in Van Helsing (2004).

Gabriel, oh Gabriel! He ended up killing the girl, but he also ganked Drucula while he was at it.

4. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) in the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-3).

Aragorn may respect Eowyn and he might even be engaged to Arwen, but he is without a doubt in love with Legolas.

5. Cort (Russell Crowe) in the Quick and the Dead (1995).

Cort may have turned to preaching, but when push comes to shove he still knows how to use his hands (in both a gun fight and during his extracurriculars).

6. Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Gangs of New York (2002).

Now, now Amsterdam, Bill the Butcher didn't know what he was saying when he said you have no heart.

7. Tom Hanson (Johnny Depp) in the series 21 Jump Street (1987-91).

Officer Hanson is a pretty boy and a by the book kinda guy, but he can probably teach you a few things about handcuffs.

8. Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (2003-17).

Aye, avast! Will's father was indeed a bloody pirate - a scalawag.

9. Jimmy Hickok (Josh Brolin) in the series the Young Riders (1989-91).

Jimmy's a good boy, but hot-headed with a quick draw. queue the song bad company by bad company.

10. John Bender (Judd Nelson) in the Breakfast Club (1985).

Bender's a criminal, but you can always share your jewelry. Particularly your earrings.

What can I say? I liked what I liked, and I still do... I obviously have a thing for beautiful long-haired brunets. I will not apologize.

***I am aware that some of these movies may be considered violent with coarse language and mature themes/content - essentially unsuitable for young children, but I watched them and I turned out just fine. At least I think I did.

[scenesandscreens]

The Italian Job (1969)

Director - Peter Collinson, Cinematography - Douglas Slocombe

"Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea."

[watchingalotofmovies]

The Italian Job

The Italian Job    [trailer]

Comic caper movie about a plan to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam.

Having never seen this original, I was a little surprised that there is indeed an emphasis on "comic". Which was unexpected, especially after the impressive opening scene. But it's not a problem, thanks to all the British accents.

Besides the Minis, it's fun to see so many Fiat 500s on the streets of Turin. And I can't believe how many cars they threw down the mountains.

The ending is very well balanced.

[thejcube]

The confession of Michael Corleone.

[byneddiedingo]

Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary McCormack, and Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York (Martin Scorsese, 2002) 

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, Gary Lewis, Stephen Graham, Eddie Marsan, Alec McCowen, David Hemmings. Screenplay: Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan. Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus. Production design: Dante Ferretti. Film editing: Thelma Schoonmaker. Music: Howard Shore. 

Gangs of New York is such a sprawling, unfocused movie that I can almost imagine the filmmakers throwing up their hands and sighing, "Well, at least we've got Daniel." Because Daniel Day-Lewis's performance as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting holds the film together whenever it tends to sink into the banality of its revenge plot or to wander off into the eddies of New York City history. A historical drama like Gangs of New York needs two things: a compelling central story and an audience that knows something about the history on which it's based. But for all their violence and their anticipation of problems that continue to manifest themselves in the United States, the Draft Riots of 1863 and the almost two decades of gang wars that led up to them are mostly textbook footnotes to most Americans. Director Martin Scorsese's determination to depict them led to the hiring of a formidable team of screenwriters -- Jay Cocks, who wrote the story, and Steven Zaillian and Kenneth Lonergan, who collaborated with Cocks on the screenplay. Unfortunately, the narrative thread that they came up with is tired. As a boy, Amsterdam Vallon saw his father, an Irish Catholic nicknamed "Priest" (Liam Neeson), cut down by Bill the Butcher in a huge battle between the Irish immigrant gang, the Dead Rabbits, and Bill's Protestant gang, the Natives. Sixteen years later Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the Five Points neighborhood determined to get revenge on Bill, who has managed to make peace with many of the old members of Vallon's father's gang and to become a power-player aligned with Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed (Jim Broadbent). Vallon is introduced to Bill's criminal enterprise by an old boyhood friend, Johnny (Henry Thomas), and he begins to fall under Bill's spell -- along with that of a pretty pickpocket, Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz). But the relationship between Vallon and Jenny stirs the jealousy of Johnny, who is smitten with her, and he reveals to Bill that Vallon is the son of his old enemy, leading to a climactic showdown -- one that just happens to occur simultaneously with the Draft Riots. There's a lot of good stuff in Gangs of New York, including Michael Ballhaus's cinematography and Dante Ferretti's production design -- the sets were constructed at Cinecittà Studios in Rome. But the awkward attempt to merge the romantic revenge plot with the historical background shifts the focus away from what the film is supposedly about: racism, anti-immigrant nativism, political corruption, and exploitation of the poor. "You can always hire one half of the poor to kill the other half," Tweed says. Oddly (and sadly), Gangs of New York seems more relevant today than it did in 2002, when the country was recovering from the 9/11 attacks. Then, the Oscar-nominated anthem by U2,  "The Hands That Built America," which concludes the film seemed to promise a spirit of unity, an affirmation that the country had overcome the antagonisms depicted in the movie. Today it has a far more ironic effect.