American Gangster (2007)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Steven Zaillian (written by)
Mark Jacobson (article)

Release Date:

2 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There are two sides to the American dream.

Plot:

In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Black Family | Extortion | Crime Boss | Organized Crime

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Frank Lucas
Russell Crowe	...	Det. Richie Roberts
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Huey Lucas
Josh Brolin	...	Detective Trupo
Lymari Nadal	...	Eva
Ted Levine	...	Det. Lou Toback
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Nate
John Hawkes	...	Det. Freddie Spearman
RZA	...	Moses Jones
Yul Vazquez	...	Alphonse Abruzzo
Malcolm Goodwin	...	Jimmy Zee
Ruby Dee	...	Mama Lucas
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Doc
Carla Gugino	...	Laurie Roberts
Skyler Fortgang	...	Michael Roberts

Also Known As:

The Return of Superfly (USA) (working title)
Tru Blu (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.

Runtime:

157 min | USA:176 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL | Japan:R-15 | Argentina:16 | Taiwan:R-18 (original rating) | France:U (with warning) | Ireland:16 | UK:18 | Sweden:15 | Peru:14 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 | South Korea:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-15 | USA:R (certificate #43495) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Briarcliff Manor, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The real Richie Roberts and 'Frank Lucas' were major consultants to director Ridley Scott on the New York set of this film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a scene in the winter of 1970-1, as the task force is tracking a sale of "Blue Magic" at night, the suspect is scene stepping out of a 1974 BMW 2002.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bumpy Johnson: Happy Thanksgiving!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

How Great Thou Art

A True Gangster Epic

Now i've heard some mixed reactions to this movie, and I must say I don't think that. American Gangster is a perfect gangster film. A rise and fall film, but it is done better than both Empire and Carlito's Way put together. Where Empire fails, American Gangster prevails where historical accuracy is needed as well as a good background story. It's violent and sometimes shocking, but being an avid gangster/crime fan i know that compared to others this is almost nothing.

A brilliant biopic of New York gangster Frank Lucasm the film also utilises Lucas's relationship with the Italian Mafia perfectly, giving you almost a two way view of the city's underworld. Denzel Washington excels at the part as Lucas, and Russell Crowe as the cop out to get him is almost blinding. Crowe does a great American accent, as well as portraying a cop out to just do his job but can't properly. It's a a film about Lucas's rise to fame in New York's Heroin business, and his fall due to both Crowe and police persistence.

Like with most gangster films, you are always put off by either the acting or the story. But here this is not the case, you have a true story that does not mask Lucas's violent life but rather portrays it as a life of both murder and violence. It does not glamorise his life in any way, it's a film that says criminals never get away with what they've done. Both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are perfect in the criminal and cop relationship.

I would say now do not listen to the negative reviews of this film, they do no justice for the film. I'd recommend this film to fans of crime flicks and those who just want a riveting film to watch.