American Gangster

Ridley Scott directs this 2hrs and 37mins film based on facts surrounding the gangster-riddled Harlem during the 70's. Denzel Washington stars as the ruthless drug kingpin Frank Lucas, and Russell Crowe as the too-honest detective (Richie Roberts) that ends up nailing him down, only to later defend him when he graduates as a lawyer. As a young lad Lucas is coached by legendary  Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson and becomes a street hero just as his mentor. Even though he was loved and respected, especially when he makes a show of handing out Thanksgiving turkeys to Harlems' poor, Lucas is, after all, a cold-blooded killer who smuggles pure heroin from South-East Asia and sells it cheaper than the street rate. He does horrible things, and you could say that as a black man, his aim was to beat whitey at his own game. As Richie Roberts tells Lucas towards the end of the film "They hate what you represent...A black businessman like you? You represent progress."

The film starts with a cold-blooded murder executed by a calm, business-like Lucas. Scott is introducing the viewer to Lucas' callous character, and even though no further killings of this nature follow throughout the film, Scott maintains the viewer with the same impression about Lucas. He comes across as non-emotional, and very composed. Around his mother and wife, he seems to find it hard to break off his hard exterior though. Richie on the other hand is rugged, above-board, a cop who displays more hatred towards crooked cops than the criminals themselves. In fact, he is so honest that he hands in almost a million dollars in unmarked cash that he and his partner both find. These are the main protagonists, although it takes a very long time for Lucas and Richie to come face to face. Richie is chasing The Gangster of the town, although he does not know exactly who he is. Both these characters have very different interests, but their ideals are, to a degree, very similar.

American Gangster is dense with information, but can be light on it's feet. Watching it a second time will reveal some cracks. It does paint an accurate picture on institutional decay - a black gangster outdoing the Mafia in the heroin trade, corrupt cops, drug-addiction and cynical senior investigators who refuse to believe military personnel were capable of being involved in the smuggling business....

It is an intelligent and well made movie.