Review: American Gangster
When Frank Lucas’ (Denzel Washington) boss, the black crime boss in 1970’s Harlem, dies, Frank now has the opportunity to rise to the top of the drug world. He soon does just that with his business mind and twisted code of ethics, as well as his ability to offer a better product for a lower price because of his connections in Vietnam.
Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is a cop studying to be a lawyer, who is an outcast among his peers for his sense of morality and the actions he takes because of it. After seeing the huge drug problem on the streets first hand, he starts a Narcotics Unit to try and stop it along with the corruption that is enabling it, starting with the men at the top.
Inevitably their paths become intertwined as Richie’s investigation progresses. Although they are both similar in their integrity and their outcast position in their field, they are on opposing sides of the law and someone has to win.
I actually ended up missing the first few minutes of this movie because I was late, and since going into it I really had no idea what this movie was about I was a little confused at first… but I figured it out. I knew this movie was going to be good though just because of the people that were involved. How could it not be? Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott directing?
And I was right. I loved this movie. It was a great story (which is always much more interesting when you know it’s based on a true story), it had incredible acting, and it was highly entertaining. What more could you want in a movie?
It is now nominated for 3 Golden Globes for: Best Actor- Drama (Denzel Washington), Best Picture- Drama, and Best Director. We’ll see how that goes and I’m sure it will have a few Oscar nominations as well.
It had a few rough scenes that were hard to watch and it was a little long (2 hrs. 37 mins.) but overall I loved it and it didn’t drag at all. The last 45 minutes or so were so intense when it all came together and, I think, the best part of the movie. Definitely worth renting when it comes out on DVD if you didn’t catch it at the theater.
My Rating:
Loved It
American Gangster, American Gangster review, movie review, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Ridley Scott
February 6th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
[...] The Departed by Laura After watching American Gangster I realized that I hadn’t seen The Departed in a long time. When The Departed first came out I [...]
March 1st, 2008 at 1:04 am
[...] fact that this movie was nominated for an Oscar for best picture and American Gangster wasn’t really disgusts [...]
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
[...] just like, eh. I thought the overall ideas of the movie were kind of a mix between The Departed and American Gangster but nowhere NEAR as good as those two movies which are two of my all-time favorites. That’s [...]
March 5th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
American Gangster reminded me yet again what a versatile actor Russel Crowe is… plus it’s pretty clever how Ridley Scott makes viewers love the bad guy and dislike the good guy only to turn that around by the end of the movie.
March 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I agree with you 100%. Russell Crowe is one of my favorite actors and American Gangster was amazing. I loved the combonation of Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott!
Good point about the characters. I never really thought about that.
Thanks for the comments!
March 17th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Your review of American Gangster was about a B+ but your blog is A++
March 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Thanks for rating my reviews. LOL
And it’s a well know fact that this is the best blog in existence.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Well maybe the second best
Best Page in the Universe
March 17th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
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March 24th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
[...] first one being Michael Clayton which was also not entertaining) And yet again I am disgusted that American Gangster was completely over [...]