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Movie: American Gangster
Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Carla Gugino, Cuba Gooding Jr., Armand Assante
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American Gangster tells the unique true story of America's first black gangster. The story is set in New York City, during the end of the sixties and beginning of the seventies. The police force is corrupt, the Italians rule the underworld. Until a relatively unknown Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) pops up. He started as driver and bodyguard of Harlem's most important gangster Bumpy Johnson, but took over his empire after he passed away. Lucas follows a strict ethical code and manages to take over the drugs market using a purer and better product.
Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an honest cop who just like Lucas follows his code and rules of his world. His mission is to find out more about the mysterious American Gangster and arrest him.
Ridley Scott directs the clash of the titans, which isn't the first time Washington and Crowe share one bed. They also starred in the sci-fi flick Virtuosity, in which Crowe was the bad guy and Washington played the cop. The tables are turned for American Gangster though. The film follows the road to success of Frank Lucas, who smartly uses the Vietnam War to get his drugs. It's fascinating to see the connection and similarities between Lucas and Roberts. Two men on both sides of the law but using the same code of honor. Scott does an incredible job in bringing the stories separately but eventually blends them together during its great but unfortunately less suspenseful climax. However, the performance by Washington and Crowe is stunning and elevates the film far beyond the average. Fans of Goodfellas, Scarface, The Untouchables, The Godfather or powerful crime thrillers simply need to see this one, an intriguing flick about the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, the first black American Gangster.
Written by Reggy 12/11/07
© universal 2007
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