American Gangster (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Good & evil coexist in 'American Gangster', Ridley Scott's latest crime drama. New Jersey, 1970s: Det. Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) works to bring down the drug empire of heroin kingpin, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington). Lucas is smuggling the heroin into America by way of the coffins of soldiers returning home from the Vietnam War. In opposite sides of the law, each man (respected in their circles) become intertwined in a confrontational power struggle. But do the rules say that just one guy's gotta win, & one's gotta lose? I enjoyed this film; everything about it is good or great. So why am I forgetting it, one day later?
Lucas had been the driver to one of Harlem's leading black mobsters. But when this man dies (and many had still owed him $$), a knowledgeable Frank slips himself into power, and builds his own empire; one that would benefit him, and the one's he loves most, his North Carolinian family. Savvy in strict business ethic/codes, Lucas comes to rule Harlem's drug trade (which then expands over all of NY). He's able to acquire the purest form of heroin possible, straight from Southeast Asia ... and with no middle man. It's the perfect situation, he can sell the best product at the cheapest price, & rule forever. Lucas gains the empire, $$, and fame. And it's not only NY's lowlifes who keep him & his family afloat, it's also a fair amount of legitimate civil celebrities, as well.
Meanwhile, Roberts is having a tough time of it: he's an outcast cop, his wife (Carla Gugino) is divorcing him, he doesn't know his son, none of his extramarital relationships are working out, etc. He works close enough to the streets to get a feel for the drug trade, but he can't quite figure out who's controlling the Mafia underworld just yet. Surely, it must be the Mafioso Dominic Cattano (Armand Assante), the Irish, or the Guineas, it CAN'T be a black man, or can it? If they nab Lucas, they'd have to gather an awful lot of evidence against him. While Roberts' suspicions grow, so do Lucas' enemies. Threats to his power, family, & his own life are flooding in from his drug competitors. Will they kill him? Will they turn him in? Or can Roberts & his crew get to his enemies first?
Crowe is great here, & he brings humanity to the story (from his angle). But this is Denzel's show; his portion of the story is truly magnetic (whether he's kind & courteous, or unforgivably brutal). Crowe's Roberts & Denzel's Lucas feels incredibly authentic. I enjoyed learning little tidbits about how the drug trade appears to work (i.e., the women who package the drugs are nude so that none of them can steal it). I enjoyed the conclusion of the film & how these 2 mens' destinies play out (it IS based on a true story). The editing is stellar (Lucas carves a Thanksgiving turkey for his family, as thousands of his drug users are dying with needles stuck in their veins). And the art direction/cinematography is evocative. Here's a film about the late 60's-early 70's that actually looks & FEELS realistic. The depiction of this sleazy, desperate era is great. As you can see, my 'individual' accolades persist.
Also good here is Josh Brolin as a dirty cop. I look forward to his meatier role in this month's No Country for Old Men. Lucas' wife (Lymari Nadal) is fine; as is Chiwetel Ejifor, as Lucas' little brother. But the best of the rest of the supporting actors is Ruby Dee (Lucas' mom). She has 1 or 2 moving scenes that scream Oscar bait. Really, this is a well-filmed, workmanlike effort by Ridley Scott. Even at 2 hours & 30 min., it moves fairly quickly. But the fact that I can't forge many 'memories' of this film 15 hours after viewing it is a tad alarming. It has stunning moments, but it's not nearly weighty enough to distinguish it as one of the greats (of even this year). It's powerful, but fails to consistently enthrall. Whenever the focus is on Crowe & Denzel, it soars. But some so-called dramatic subplots fail to compel. The subplots don't stick in my mind. Overall, I like the whole of 'American Gangster' more than most of its' parts. It's still a very good movie.
Lucas had been the driver to one of Harlem's leading black mobsters. But when this man dies (and many had still owed him $$), a knowledgeable Frank slips himself into power, and builds his own empire; one that would benefit him, and the one's he loves most, his North Carolinian family. Savvy in strict business ethic/codes, Lucas comes to rule Harlem's drug trade (which then expands over all of NY). He's able to acquire the purest form of heroin possible, straight from Southeast Asia ... and with no middle man. It's the perfect situation, he can sell the best product at the cheapest price, & rule forever. Lucas gains the empire, $$, and fame. And it's not only NY's lowlifes who keep him & his family afloat, it's also a fair amount of legitimate civil celebrities, as well.
Meanwhile, Roberts is having a tough time of it: he's an outcast cop, his wife (Carla Gugino) is divorcing him, he doesn't know his son, none of his extramarital relationships are working out, etc. He works close enough to the streets to get a feel for the drug trade, but he can't quite figure out who's controlling the Mafia underworld just yet. Surely, it must be the Mafioso Dominic Cattano (Armand Assante), the Irish, or the Guineas, it CAN'T be a black man, or can it? If they nab Lucas, they'd have to gather an awful lot of evidence against him. While Roberts' suspicions grow, so do Lucas' enemies. Threats to his power, family, & his own life are flooding in from his drug competitors. Will they kill him? Will they turn him in? Or can Roberts & his crew get to his enemies first?
Crowe is great here, & he brings humanity to the story (from his angle). But this is Denzel's show; his portion of the story is truly magnetic (whether he's kind & courteous, or unforgivably brutal). Crowe's Roberts & Denzel's Lucas feels incredibly authentic. I enjoyed learning little tidbits about how the drug trade appears to work (i.e., the women who package the drugs are nude so that none of them can steal it). I enjoyed the conclusion of the film & how these 2 mens' destinies play out (it IS based on a true story). The editing is stellar (Lucas carves a Thanksgiving turkey for his family, as thousands of his drug users are dying with needles stuck in their veins). And the art direction/cinematography is evocative. Here's a film about the late 60's-early 70's that actually looks & FEELS realistic. The depiction of this sleazy, desperate era is great. As you can see, my 'individual' accolades persist.
Also good here is Josh Brolin as a dirty cop. I look forward to his meatier role in this month's No Country for Old Men. Lucas' wife (Lymari Nadal) is fine; as is Chiwetel Ejifor, as Lucas' little brother. But the best of the rest of the supporting actors is Ruby Dee (Lucas' mom). She has 1 or 2 moving scenes that scream Oscar bait. Really, this is a well-filmed, workmanlike effort by Ridley Scott. Even at 2 hours & 30 min., it moves fairly quickly. But the fact that I can't forge many 'memories' of this film 15 hours after viewing it is a tad alarming. It has stunning moments, but it's not nearly weighty enough to distinguish it as one of the greats (of even this year). It's powerful, but fails to consistently enthrall. Whenever the focus is on Crowe & Denzel, it soars. But some so-called dramatic subplots fail to compel. The subplots don't stick in my mind. Overall, I like the whole of 'American Gangster' more than most of its' parts. It's still a very good movie.