American Gangster DVD

Advantages: read opp
Disadvantages: read opp

...the breathtaking "American Gangster". American Gangster was written by Steve Zaillian and directed by Ridley Scott, and starred Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. I had heard about this film being in the works for some time, and was even more excited when it was released, purchasing a ticket on the opening weekend the film premiered. Now people seem to have mixed reactions to this film, some love it and some hate it, its understandable, but for ...
...thing to a decent gangster movie since the days of the Godfather, or Scarface. The film was written brilliantly, no question directed superbly because Ridley had made it, and the characters were portrayed very well the respective actors. The film had an all round good connection, and I would also like to commend the supporting actors for making this film a bit grittier. Plot: The film picks up with Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson a intelligent and respected ... Read review

Advantages: It's just an all round perfect film
Disadvantages: Some scenes of drug taking

...Hearing news stories about how American soldiers in Vietnam are addicted to hard drugs as they're so cheap and easy to get gives him an idea. Enlisting the help of a cousin who is serving in the Far East, he is able to tap into a cheap supply of drugs and move himself up the food chain, as well as make a lot of money and attract some beautiful women. Richie Roberts is unusual in New York as he's an honest cop. He's been vilified by his colleagues ...
...street instead of keeping it for himself. When his partner dies of a drug overdose, Richie is invited to join and put together a new Narcotics Unit and this brings him into direct opposition to Frank Lucas. The film follows the lives of these two men; both their professional and personal lives. Although they are both decent men deep down, their lives could not be more different with the one having his family around him and the other losing his family ... Read review

Advantages: Denzel Washington, Russel Crowe, Ridley Scott, a great screenplay and story
Disadvantages: A little slow for the first hour

...true story of Frank Lucas American Gangster follows his life from the late 60's when his mentor Bumpy Johnson dies to the end of the Vietnam war in the early 70's. The role of Lucas fell to Denzel Washington who stars as the former driver and big time drug lord, cutting out the middle men and buying Heroin straight from the source in Vietnam. The only danger to Lucas is the formation of a new Narcotics unit within the police and the fact it's being ...
...reliable Cop determined to sort out the major Drugs problem following the death of his partner from an overdose. The subject matter of the film is a little graphic and while I felt it really was an interesting story and one I was very keen to learn more about it won't suit everyone's taste. There is quite a lot of graphic drug use throughout the film and it doesn't hold back with the violence either. That said these make up interesting aspects of ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting portrayal of one of Americas most succesful gangsters
Disadvantages: Overlong, and distracting sidestories

...to me and the movie American Gangster a movie I anticipated about a year ago. Online reviews were really positive and coming from trusted sources my hopes were increased to a new level. But sadly Boxing Day 2007 bought me a little sadness. When black gang boss Bumps (or Bumpy as he is known with affection) dies, a situation that has long remained calm occurs. Lots of one time workers for Bumps all start vying for power in Manhattan. The one person ...
...most renown gangster of afro American origin and certainly most profitable in American history; American Gangster starts on an impressive level. Sadly however I found its story needlessly elongated and often littered with irrelevant side issues (a bit like one of my reviews I hear you cry!). American Gangster is just too long, for the story and script line that goes along with it. Don't get me wrong I love long movies, especially long gangster movies ... Read review

Advantages: Very artistic
Disadvantages: none

American Gangster is an amazing film showing maturity from director Ridley Scott (Bladerunner), screen writer Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List) and actors Denzil Washington (Malcolm X) and Russell Crowe (Gladiator), all already respected in their fields. It's based on the true story of real gangster Frank Lucas who in the seventies masterminded the US military to smuggle pure heroin into America on service planes. As the Vietnam War was still in ...
...and with his cousin in the army he's able to smuggle the heroin from South East Asia with ease. The film initially starts off as brutal as the opening credits of Goodfellas, but that's more less where the similarity ends. This is more the kind of gritty drama and scenarios that you would see in an episode of The Wire. The streets are filthy, the cops are corrupt to such an extent you almost admire Frank's work ethic against the sleaze and money ... Read review

Advantages: 2 Great actors, and one superb director
Disadvantages: none!

...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Great Performances
Disadvantages: A LIttle Too Long

...have any kids in real life. The main corrupt cop, Det. Trupo is played by Josh Brolin who I remeber for being in Night Watch, he is certainly plays the part sleazily enough. You feel he is as bad as Lucas for what he's doing which is of course intended. The thing that always impresses me about Ridley Scott is his versatility, not every film he has made has been a classic but none of them are bad. I can't see him making a film is this vein again. I enjoyed American Ganster a lot, it kept my attention for its entire duration and there's plenty of action and story without getting too complex. Recommended. Main Cast List Denzel Washington - Frank Lucas Russell Crowe - Det. Richie Roberts Chiwetel Ejiofor - Huey Lucas Josh Brolin - Det. Trupo Directed By : Ridley Scott Running time : 157 min Certificate... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Modern film, some great dialog
Disadvantages: First time you watch it, it's hard to follow what is going on.

...Pulp fiction is a film written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino, who is seen as a bit of a mad man in the movie industry and has always brought something new and shocking to his films. This is no exception, as this is an amazing movie, which has his shocking and surprising moments. The cast is excellent and the actor brilliant, the actors and actresses chosen for the parts were spot on. John Travolta plays a part that you would never have thought you would have seen him play and Samuel L Jackson playing his gangster partner is perfect, his hard hitting, clear American voice really makes his part original. This is a two disk DVD edition, which has a disk containing the great movie and another disk packed full of special features. I've pointed out the special features and written about my favourites. Story Line This film has... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful