Big names go ‘gangster’ in new mobster movie

Drugs, dirty cops provide the central themes in ‘American Gangster’

By Justin Thurmond, staff writer
Posted on November 5, 2007

Acclaimed director Ridley Scott has returned to the big screen with another hit: “American Gangster.”  This new mob flick is certain to bring in the crowds at the box office with its big name stars. But will it be able to stick around with some of the other classic mobster movies?

Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington, “Man on Fire”) was a nobody in the street world of Harlem.  He was just a bodyguard and driver for the biggest crime boss in the city.  When the boss finally bit the dust, Frank took it upon himself to become the new main man of Harlem.

When he found a way to get pure heroin, which he called “Blue Magic,” into the city from Asia, he took over the market and the city.  Eventually Lucas became the top dog and public enemy number one for the cops.  Richie Roberts (played by Russell Crowe, “Gladiator”) heads the drug department that tries to take down Lucas and his new empire.

It’s obvious that this movie has star power.  Washington as Lucas is good enough to bring the big crowds by itself. When Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr., Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Inside Man”), Josh Brolin (“Planet Terror”) and Armand Assante (“The Odyssey”) get thrown into the mix, the result is a A-list cast.  If the story is as good as the cast then this movie should go down as one of the bests of all time, right? 

Although it has great moments with tension and action it also has slow and pointless moments. Washington and Crowe aren’t in the same scene until two hours and twenty minutes into the movie. It’s because the whole movie mostly is back story. When they finally meet, it’s over.  No big fight scene or outrageous gun battle, nothing but a conversation at the police station.  If you’re expecting a cop vs. gangster movie, then you’re in for a let down, but if you want a great story about drugs and dirty cops then you’re in for a treat.

It is hard to tell if this movie will stand the test of time. Despite being a good movie, when it is compared to classics like “Goodfellas” or “The Godfather” it falls short of an instant classic.