‘American Gangster’ Review

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     When Martin Scorsese released ‘The Departed’ last year, it received extensive praise from critics, and audiences all over the country as it went on to take home the ‘Best Picture’ Oscar, along with a well-deserved ‘Best Director’ award for Scorsese. But equally significant, it became a worldwide hit that is destined to be one of the few defining films of today’s generation. Now, just over a year later, director Ridley Scott has brought two of Hollywood’s most familiar faces together in ‘American Gangster,’ which tells the unforgettable true story of the only black drug dealer in history, whose fortune ever rose above that of the mafia.

     Set during the middle years of the Vietnam War, ‘American Gangster’ follows the life of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), one of the most narcotic drug lords in Harlem, New York as he makes a fortune smuggling heroin into America through the coffins of dead American soldiers. With a determined cop (Russell Crowe) hot on his trail, Lucas must make his usual quick and witty decisions as he moves his operations up and down the streets, making money, and selling a lot of dope in the process. As the police slowly draw closer, it seems as if they’ve got Lucas right where they want him, but what they have yet to realize is that no matter how far they go, and no matter how close they get to him, Frank Lucas don’t run from nobody! This is a story of struggle and determination from two men on opposite sides of the law whose lives will be forever changed when it’s all said and done.

     Through several projects under Spike Lee, and only one portrayal of a bad cop, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is no stranger to success and has built one of the biggest fan bases in Hollywood as a heavily favored lead protagonist. The most common favorite from his fans seems to be his ruthless role as the ‘Man on Fire,’ but filling the shoes of legendary heroin kingpin, Frank Lucas, Washington takes another run at being the bad guy in what has got to be the most stunning performance of his career. As much as we love seeing him wear a badge, it’s kind of funny how the highlight of his success really builds on him being the antagonist. Maybe it’s because he proves to be good no matter what, but either way, Washington’s character in ‘American Gangster’ is one that you’ll have a tough time admiring, but also one that is about as true to life as Hollywood can ever get.

     After a brief slump in the ‘06 drama ‘A Good Year,’ Academy Award winner Russell Crowe has gotten back on track in 2007 with a surprising job well done in the western drama ‘3:10 to Yuma.’ ‘Yuma’ may have lifted this already acclaimed star out of some hot water, but as the outcast cop hot on Lucas’ trail, Crowe has reached a new level in his career that just might exceed the courageous warrior of ‘Gladiator.’ Crowe approaches ‘American Gangster’ already having plenty of experience under Ridley Scott’s command, but it is something new for him to now be the supporting man. While Washington may have a clear shot at being the ‘Best Actor,’ Crowe’s on screen talent in ‘American Gangster’ pretty much wraps his package for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ with a big golden bow on top. Whether or not it will stay sealed, however, remains to be seen, but it certainly seems very likely.

     Acclaimed director Ridley Scott has never failed to make an impression on moviegoers. Whether it be in the coliseums of ‘Gladiator,’ the holy battlefields of ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ or even the hungry streets of Somalia in ‘Black Hawk Down,’ Scott always finds a way to grab his audience by the throat and give them a show to remember. The prior chemistry with Russell Crowe easily puts one half of ‘American Gangster’ in the pot early, but in his first collaboration with Denzel Washington, Scott brings out so many of Washington’s finest attributes, it’s amazing to think that they have never worked before.

     While lengthy timing is usually known to kill most films, there have been a handful of exceptions in which longer reels helped make an already good show continue to move forward, and get better in the process. In the midst of a well written screenplay penned by Steven Zaillian, ‘American Gangster’s’ two hour and forty minute run mixes drama and action at a fairly even pace, with a vague detective-like atmosphere behind both. Just don’t expect anyone to get shot in the backseat (Pulp Fiction), or for there to be several surprising headshot kill-offs in the concluding act (The Departed). What you can expect, however, is a string of cold-blooded hits from Denzel as he encounters many honest buyers, and whacks plenty of crooked traitors.

     In the tradition of mafia crime thrillers, director Ridley Scott’s ‘American Gangster’ is a solidly crafted project that mixes many atmospheric elements of ‘Scarface’ and ‘Training Day,’ along with top-notch career performances from its two leads, making it the most riveting, and most satisfying picture of 2007. The natural approach to quality filming is for directors to accentuate the positives, and hide the negatives. Well Scott has accentuated every positive (and he has plenty of them) to the max, but the funny thing is, there are NO negatives to hide.

     Whether it be cinematography, dialogue, acting, action, or whatever else the audience expects, you can rest assured, ‘American Gangster’ will give it to you! Seriously, this is the best picture of the year, and anything left to come that’s hoping to top this will need to pull a lot of surprises, which, even still, may not be enough.

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