American Gangster (DVD)

...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 ...

jaygami1986 13.02.2008 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

...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 ...

Soho_Black 16.12.2007 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

In 1970s New York police corruption is rife and the Mafia controls the lucrative heroin trade with an iron grip. But a new force rises in the drugs world in the guise of Frank Lucas, an enterprising young black man from Harlem who applies his ingenuity and business acumen to the trade. He smuggles drugs from the so-called Golden Triangle in the coffins of dead soldiers. His wealth and notoriety help him to become a hero and role model to his community. ...
...Richie Roberts, who is determined to bring Lucas down despite the best efforts of his colleagues and his adversary's men. Director Ridley Scott is not in the habit of saying things concisely if he has the option of an epic running time. That's certainly the case in this hundred-and-fifty-seven minute gangster epic. It follows in the footsteps of pretty much any gangster rise-to-power film since "The Godfather". It shows the humble beginnings of ...

afy9mab 25.11.2008 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

...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 ...

Andy.mack 10.12.2007 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

...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 ...

sghawken 31.12.2007 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

I had visions of this being a masterpiece, it had been hyped up so much. What with awards nominations and rave reviews, big names such as director Ridley Scott and actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, and it being based on quite an interesting true story, I was really looking forward to it. And yes, it is good. Was it as good as I had expected? Probably not. It follows the the life of drug lord Frank Lucas (Denzel) who sets his business in ...
...the biggest drug runners in New York. After many failures and finding himself at the last chance saloon as far as his career goes, detective Ritchie Roberts (Crowe) tags onto the rumour mill and slowly but surely edges towards catching Lucas. This would be a multi-billion dollar operation stopped in its tracks. Or, it could be disastrous. Either way, one of them will find their career is over....for good. The acting from the two leads, let me just ...

pmcds 25.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

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 ...

bumbybumbum 04.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

Not my normal kind of film, I wasn't too impressed when my husband put it on, and made me sit down and watch it with him, but seeing as I had just made him watch PS I love you, it was only fair...and I must say although I was aprehensive, I was impressed with this film, and found that I actually liked it. The film is about drugs basically, and as you would guess from the name, gangsters! The film follows the life of drug dealer Frank Lewis in Harlem ...
...from Vietnam, as this film is set during the Vietman war, he enrols his cousin who is in the army to bring over 200,000kilos of the "Blue Magic" as he names it, in doses for him to sell all over the US for cheaper than the normal price. This is good for the drug addicts...not good for the competition. And Lewis manages to make alot of enemies. On the other side of the law is Richie Roberts, a police officer...and one of the only straight officers ...

stephbond89 31.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

Ridley Scott's American Gangster is a good film -- and I mean "good" in the sense that it has similar elements to the classic gangster hits that many of us grew to love. It's familiar, yes, but unfortunately that's also the film's main problem; it doesn't quite have enough to convince us that it is worthy of our attention, especially considering that it is only one film in a huge catalogue of very good films within the same genre. On top of that, ...
...behind bars for good. American Gangster is never boring, but it's never overly exciting, either. Now I know Ridley Scott likes to emphasize character development, but I really feel as if he overdoes it sometimes. Here, for example, there are various subplots -- such as Roberts' custody battle and his random sexual encounters with women -- that are just not needed. This is supposed to be a story about one of the most distinguished organized crime ...

andycarrington 15.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

...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 : 18 ...

lilmsnaughty1979 29.02.2008 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

It really is brilliant and the lead roles goes to one of my favourite actors in the world Denzel Washington. I can guarantee that any movie with Denzel Washington in it is amazing, alot of my favourite movies have Denzel Washington acting in leading roles, many people will agree that he is a brilliant actor. This film is full of bullets flying everywhere and that is what makes a good gangster film, death, guns and drugs. This film is about a big ...
...in the drug industry in order to make alot more money. Meanwhile the police are tracking his every move and trying to find the source of the drugs. There are plenty of brilliant brilliant actors alongside Denzel Washington in this movie and it is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would definately recommend this movie to people who like other films like this, such as Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale or The Godfather. ...

plainpaul 25.02.2009 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

Superb film and has 2 absolutely brilliant actors in it. Worth the money if you love gangster films and even if you just love the actors that are in it. well worth it! ...

lordo69 14.07.2008
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

I watched American Gangster for the first time on New Years day. I wasn't sure if it was the appropriate film to be watching on the day as well, let's face it....I had had a skin full the night before! I was overall very impressed with the film and in fairness to it, it perked me up no end and made me forget about my hangover. The plot is one of crime in the 1970's there are huge amounts of drugs, prostitution and street warfare. Drugs as we all ...
...provide a source of drugs better and cheaper than your competition, you will inevitably make a lot of money. the secret though is to ensure that no one ever really knows that it is you selling it and that no one ever discovers your source of drugs. In the film the lead (played by the great Denzel Washington) is up against the tough cop (Russell Crowe), the one thing that marks this cop out from others is his belief in law and order and justice....most ...

excelsior81 31.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

This has to be one of my all time favourites! What can i say, one of the best acted and directed ever, plus it has a great actor in it! The film starts off about when he is a small time drug dealer in harlem, NY, and then moves onto how he becomes a bigger drug lord in the streets on New York. The plot of the film is superb! It has you gripping onto the edge of your seat throughout the film as you don't know when he is/isn't going to get caught ...

wardy-91 14.07.2008 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)

This film is fanastic got some great actors in it and a pure gangster film from the past based on a true story. Frank works for a big time gangster (Bumpy) who runs the drug scene in America. Bumpy dies and Frank takes over the reigns he gets drugs coming into his country very cheap and selling them off at a profitable price. Frank buys his mum a huge house and sorts all his family out that is until the cops start to get onto him they bust him after ...

gizmo1983 29.04.2008 · Read full review
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Review of American Gangster (DVD)