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All Movie Info
Directed By
Ridley Scott
Written By:
Steven Zaillian, Mark Jacobson
Cast:
Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Ted Levine, Roger Guenveur Smith, John Hawkes, RZA, Yul Vazquez, Ruby Dee, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Carla Gugino, John Ortiz, Cuba Gooding Jr., Armand Assante, Joe Morton, Ritchie Coster, Bari K. Willerford, Idris Elba, Common, Kevin Corrigan, Jon Polito, Tom O'Rourke, Robert C. Kirk, Roger Bart, Eric Silver, Ric Young, Chuck Cooper, Chance Kelly, Sam Freed, Joey Klein, Monique Dupree, Malcolm Goodwin, Fab 5 Freddy, Albert Jones, Skyler Fortgang, Daniel Farcher, Kathleen Garrett, Quisha Saunders, Warner Miller, J. Kyle Manzay, Melissia Hill, Quisha Saunders, Robert Funaro, Tom Stearns, Mitchell Green, Connor Romero, Daniel Hilt, David Spearman, Maurice Ballard, Lymari Nadal, T.I., Saycon Sengbloh
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American Gangster (2007)
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Movie Review by Jarrod
November 3rd, 2007
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'American Gangster' is the story of a suave, smart, and charismatic man named Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), who took over the Harlem drug trade in the 1970s. He inherits it from his boss, Bumpy Johnson, who trusts Frank more than anyone else, and Frank learns a lot from Bumpy. Frank has a wife and a mother (Ruby Dee), whom he loves dearly. He goes to church every Sunday, and he shares his wealth with friends and family.
He circumvents mafia kingpin Dominic Cattano (Armand Assante) by going to suppliers in Thailand and speaking to them directly, getting an exclusive contract, and he can drive all of his competitors and rivals out of business by selling better stuff at lower prices, illustrating a true mastery of capitalism. The Mafia is surprised that they have been outmaneuvered by Frank, they actually end up having to work for him, and the cops are surprised, too, but since a lot of them get a share of his profits, they really don't mind. The extensive corruption in the narcotics division of the police department does not reach the Serpico-like Richie Roberts (Crowe), who actually turns in a million dollars worth of drug money rather than sharing it with his colleagues. This earns him great enmity, especially from his ruthless superior Trupo (Josh Brolin). It is Roberts who eventually brings Frank down; he proves to be the only person who can, since Frank essentially controls everyone else.
Frank might remind one of Al Capone, likable and often quite friendly, but he is capable of great cruelty, and has no trouble at all killing his opponents, or those who have been disloyal to him. He devises a rather ingenious scheme to smuggle drugs from Bangkok into the United States, inside the coffins of dead soldiers returning from Vietnam. Washington gives a spectacular performance, reminiscent of his Oscar-winning role in Training Day, but he is not quite the villain he was in that movie. Crowe is powerful and convincing, though Richie's story is less interesting than Frank's. Their climactic confrontation with one another is intelligent and well-written, as they actually engage in conversation, and not in a fatalistic shootout. Ruby Dee offers solid support.
Carla Gugino is not as effective as the ever-present frustrated wife, who thinks Richie spends too much time at work and not enough at home, which is why she is divorcing him. I have to applaud Brolin, who is satisfyingly nasty. Chiwetel Ejiofor, a great talent, is relegated to the fringes as Huey, Frank's cousin, who basically helps him run things, but we don't know much about him. This is a drama, not an action flick, even though there is certainly quite a bit of violence, which is something Frank will only use as a last resort, so don't expect him to become as memorable a character as Al Pacino in Scarface or Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. He is not a psychopath. Ridley Scott and cinematographer Harris Savides evoke the period well, and Steven Zaillian's script rarely falters. It is, overall, an impressive and engrossing film.
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 | Jennifer
Nov 5, 2007 3:09 AM
also wrote a review of American Gangster
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I was able to see this movie at a preview the week before it came out. I knew just the basics of the story beforehand, I wanted to see everything come together on screen and get the big picture. Your posting seems more like a synopses than a review. Do you think you give too many details? I know it is great to be able to get someone interested enough in what you say to see the film, but how far do you go before you reveal too much? I have been an avid move lover for a long time, but I have only recently started writing reviews. I was wondering if you had any advice for me as to what should and should not be included in a review? Lately it seems like commercials and previews show way more than they ought too. Obviously you have been writing reviews for quite some time and I would appreciate any feedback you might have for me in regards to the content of my future reviews.
Thank you! |
 | Zombie Boy
Nov 20, 2007 9:52 PM
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