American Gangster (2007) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2007
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ruby Dee, Josh Brolin, Armand Assante
Rating: R
Release Date: 2 November 2007
Running Time: 2 hours 56 minutes

The Movie Review

American Gangster film still 1


AMERICAN GANGSTER
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American Gangster delivers mafia movie in a different atmosphere, which for the most part stars several great African-American actors. Great actors that the world has seen their performances before with their great movies. Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr., Chiwetel Eijofor plus...Russel Crowe and Directed by Ridley Scott who is famous with his works such as Thelma & Louise, Gladiator (also headlined by Russel Crowe), and Hannibal, to name a few. So, released in November 2007 and with its poster that resembles a lot Al Pacino's Scarface (1983), let's take a look at American Gangster.

Frank Lucas is initially only the driver of the black gangster boss Bumpy Johnson. After the death of Bumpy, Frank decides to take his position and bring back Bumpy's strict code of rules to the mafia world. He travels to Bangkok, Thailand with the help of his army cousin then get acquainted with the local druglord and manages to bring home to America 100 kilos of pure heroin that Frank labels it "Blue Magic". Frank forms a new gang comprises of his brothers and cousins and in just a short time Frank takes control the majority of the transactions and raises his position to be the number one dealer in Harlem and the surrounding area.

On the other side of the "world", there is an honest cop Detective Richie Roberts who is outcast by his fellow officers for his respectable honesty in a time where corruption is a noble word. Richie is recruited as the leader of a new squad specialized in bringing down druglords only. Richie also forms a new team with police officers who are also crazy and daredevil like him. Richie Roberts and Frank Lucas destiny is interweaved, and when they finally encounter each other, expect the unexpected.

American Gangster is one of those rare movies that I could use a phrase "Oh...so close!" Yup. Almost every facet is great and is executed neatly, the costume, music, storyline, camera angle, exotic locations, all build up the atmosphere needed for this kind of movie but....but I find some empty silence that grows tedious and boring and it's worsen by the occasional mind-numbing dialogue.

This film has a plot that doesn't make you to feel downright disgusted for the antagonist, see, we are given his history and why he's such a respectable man. At some point you would probably even take a side on him. However sadly, this Frank character is role by a great actor but only too sweet, Denzel Washington. He just doesn't have enough charisma to role as a mafia boss, to say maybe like Al Pacino. That too added by Cuba Gooding Jr. who sometimes acts over-the-top with his character. Russel Crowe is keeping his character low-key and sympathetic which is good actually but his presence alone of course is not enough.

Ruby Dee (as Mama Lucas) and Armand Assante (as Dominic Cattano) are the only ones who have strong characters and charisma that make them stand-out but not exaggerate. Compare to Scarface with its all dope dealer theme, American Gangster still has to go a long way to reach Al Pacino's mansion.

American Gangster is a blaxploitation movie with a whole new meaning. It's gritty and somber but intriguing. American Gangster can't be labeled as The Afro-American version of The Godfather (1972) but it still a quite entertaining movie in mafia-theme realm.

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