one i loved this film all around..especially at being historically accurate, good acting, and not over the top hollywood bullshit.
The one thing that truly impressed me, is this is the first movie i've seen that truly showed the North's reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation and the war with the south.
Many people look at the north as the saviours for the slaves in the south, without realizing that the majority in the north didn't like blacks too much either and preferred they stayed down south. (not that its a pleasant moment in history, but sometimes its good to see the brutal truth rather than candy coat it)
I also love how the various cliques or stereotypes of that time period and place were depicted perfectly...especially those that fell into the dandy aesthetic.
You see from the begining of new york-- the history its politic' s relations has with the criminal world, ---you even see the "liberal" and "conservative" side of things.. where the "conservatives" are referred to as the "natives" and "patriots".. very similar today...
i think this film shown light on alot of things in a very precise manner without detracting from the storyline itself...
I just hate how the film ended up on two DVD discs. I know for a fact the whole damn thing could've fit on one disc.