Well another day and another movie review, I'm actually get exited about writing a review on this film, because for me it was one of the best films to have been released in 2007. It hasn't got any Oscar buzz around it, but its just the type of movie I like, its fast moving, action, drama, and crime all mixed up and packaged together to create 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 me it was simply genius, it was like the closest 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.

The film picks up with Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson a intelligent and respected Gangster who controlled most of Harlem, his replacement or second in commend was an aspiring street man named Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), who looked up to Bumpy as a father like figure, Bumpy was proud that Frank would one take control over Harlem. One day as Frank and Bumpy were in a department store, Bumpy sufferers a major heart attack and dies instantly, the year was 1968. With his death Frank had to take orders from a new gangster, who was pompous, arrogant and well just plane dirty, and Frank didn't like him one bit, Frank himself wanted control and thus started planning his life as a gangster if you would.
To gain a substantial control of the streets and therefore make money Franks would have to sell the miracle drug of the 60's Heroin. The popularity of the drug meant Frank could tap into a market. Unlike most of his competitors Frank got his supply directly from Bangkok, through his military connections his cousin had. The heroin their was a lot stronger, potent and therefore more likeable to the addicts in Harlem. Frank set up a new distribution channel and called the drug "Blue Magic". It was a success in every way, he soled it cheap and in the masses, addicts everywhere poured in for it.
Meanwhile jumping characters, a local detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), has been ordered to crate a new drugs division that must try and track down the major distributors or some of the major drugs on the street, and this would somehow lead him on Franks Tail. The story follows Frank's gain of power and rise to the top, whilst also exploring Richie's efforts to try and catch him. What happen next well you have 158 minutes to watch and see for yourself.

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington): I don't quite no what it is but Denzel is just simply a brilliant actor, he has everything, emotion, power and the ability to really give you a sense his character is real, growing up watching Training day, and John Q, really made me admire his talents as an actor. Franks character for me is like a story of the "American Dream" in the sense that you can live in America and achieve so much success, even if it means doing it the wrong way. We see the story of Franks life, from his every beginnings to his rise to the top, Frank wants to be successful in everything he does and he would do just about anything to do it. His character reminds me a lot of Al Pachino's in Scarface, a struggling man who makes his way to the top, although the scenario is somewhat different.
Whilst Frank has a deep dark side, we also see his caring side, especially the scenes with his family, in particular his mother. He really wanted to make her proud, to give her something back for all she had done, to give her a new hope in life, however I would think it would be rejected if she found out what he was doing.

My View:
For me this film had everything I wanted in it, a great director, well written story, a good plot and superb characters. It was at times very dramatic and very dark, the scenes were Frank kills people come to mind, he was more expression when killing these people, it's just as if they are nothing to him, something that has no bearing in life.
We have two contrasting characters, who seem to always be one step ahead of each other, the characters are so different personality wise, yet they are the only two that could probably get inside each others minds to no what they are thinking and no what they are doing.
Franks character was genius, who would have ever thought the buy the drugs supply straight from the Army in Bangkok. His character is really clever and very street smart, I guess all those years of growing up with Bumpy paid off. Franks family mean the world to him, its all about family for him, his mother is the women that he loves the most and his brother an cousins are all given jobs, he is always around them and always there for them. In contrast, Richie is so job orientated he has a failing marriage, a son he doesn't even no that well and only one real friend; he's almost a loner type character.
Another aspect which really makes you like the film is that it's different to most gangster movies, in the sense that all films have drugs a war etc and two opposite characters, but they never really show you what effect these drugs have on the community. This film shows so many scenes were people are addicted to the drugs, the whole set up of women, men and even little children buying drugs. I think the most powerful scene of a women stoned whilst her baby was crying next to her, really makes you feel compassion, that so many lives are being destroyed and Frank is directly responsible for this.
Frank is the love to hate character, you hate him because of what he does to society, but in retrospect you can stop but admire him because of the empire he has built from a simple gamble.

Denzel Washington
Russell Crowe
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Josh Brolin
Lymari Nadal
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Armand Assante
Ruby Dee