American gangster

American Gangster - 4/5 stars


Dir: Ridley Scott (prev work Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner)




The battle of the best actors winners, and will Ridley Scott did better this time after his previous last 2 flops (Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year)?

Based on a true story, following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. As a result, his product is superior to what is currently available on the street and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position. It is also the story of a dedicated and honest policeman, Richie Roberts, who heads up a joint narcotics task force with the Federal government.

This movie is a sort of combination of Catch Me If You Can and Lord of War, the cop catching the thief story. But i like the way the characters contradicts each other. Denzel Washington, as a drug lord, killing people without even battering an eyelid is a filial son, caring husband even risking his life to block a gun shot for his wife, but Russel Crowe as Richie the supposely minority of good cop who does not take bribes, is a fail husband, father who commin adultery with every decent looking woman he seen. Surprisngly this 2 actors only appear together in the last 15 mins of this 2 and a half hour movie.

The movie at 137 mins running time is a bit draggy in some parts. The background of Frank Lucas could be cut much shorter, if the whole movie is around half an hour shorter, it will be a much better film for the audience.

To sum it up I believe this is an excellent telling of a true crime story. It's intriguing, entertaining, and certainly serves as a cautionary reminder. DO not sell or take drugs.

o man i can be the ambassador of the say no to drugs campaign.