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Based on the life of drug-kingpin-turned-informant, Frank Lucas, who grew up in segregated North Carolina where he watched as his cousin was shot by the Klan for looking at a white girl. He eventually made his way to Harlem where he became a heroin kingpin by traveling to Asia’s Golden Triangle to make connections, shipping heroin back to the US in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam.

Golden Globe Award Nomination

”In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East.”
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Steven Zaillian (written by)
Mark Jacobson (article)
Cast: Russell Crowe
Denzel Washington
Josh Brolin
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Ted Levine
Cuba Gooding Jr
Release Date: November 2nd, 2007 (wide)
Genres: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hrs 37 min
Distributors: Universal Pictures Distribution

General

American Gangster, Golden Globe Nomination for Best Picture, is based on true story about Frank Lucas. It’s in part a portrait of late 60s-early 70s Harlem and America, full of drugs and desperation and weakness, where the strong rise above the rest and the cops are dirtier than the rats.

The film has it’s moments of sheer brutality which are literally jaw dropping and it also has some really intense and smart moments, but probably you would feel that it didn’t have enough action as a gangster movie as well as a bit slow.

Picture

Generally this movie gives an effective picture of the New York that was, the one that threatened to implode in the 1970’s, and of the rise and fall of the gangster Frank Lucas. However, also it can be sen as this picture does not have enough cinematic soul .

Sound

The tracks are all great but they are not so much “used” as they are “played”.

Action

This movie involves great acting by an enormous cast. Denzel Washington delivers a marvelous performance of a man calm and patient yet heart-stopping ferocious at some points, fearless and ambitious but likable as always. Russel Crowe once again proves he is among today’s Hollywood finest actor. He shines the screen with his performances as narcotic’s detective. Cuba Gooding Jr. could have gotten a bigger part, or more scenes because he’s a very talented actor and he proved himself many times that he’s more than capable of delivering excellent performances.

Overall

This is a time of great prosperity for all of the drug kingpins, especially Frank Lucas who was basically “The Godfather” of the heroin empire.
It does not glamorise his life in any way, it’s a film that says criminals never get away with what they’ve done.
This movie is a pleasure to watch even if you are not a gangster movies fan as it is a thinking film about the pervasive dishonesty of the culture.

Resources:

IMDB
Yahoo Movies