Sunday, November 4, 2007

'American Gangster': worth every penny

By Sarah Poulton

Rating: ****1/2 (out of five)

Familiar Faces: Denzel Washington (”Deja Vu,” “Inside Man,” “Remember the Titans”), Russell Crowe (”3:10 to Yuma,” “Cinderella Man,” “Gladiator”), Ruby Dee (”All About Us,” “The Way Back Home,” “Guiding Light”).

And the unfamiliar: Lymari Nadal (”Ladrones y mentirosos,” TV movie “Battlestar Galactica,” and she made an appearance in “The Barber Shop”).

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Unlike the classic "Godfather" trilogy, “American Gangster” tells the unglorified and extremely detailed true story of the rise and fall of New York drug lord Frank Lucas.

Set in Harlem in 1968, the movie starts out with Lucas (Washington) watching his boss die after explaining to him that the world is no longer the place for him. Unemployed, but well taken care of, Lucas sets his mind on running heroin into New York via military planes from Vietnam, eliminating the middle men and racking up bucks that escaped even the New York Mafia bosses. The scenes switch back and forth between Lucas and police detective Richie Roberts (Crowe). Roberts, sick of police corruption, accepts the task of taking down drug trafficking and narcotics dealing in New York.

The movie takes you step-by-step through the lives of these two men, revealing that organized crime isn’t as glamorous Hollywood has previously wanted us to believe. The 2 hour, 40 minute film doesn’t miss a beat concerning detail, but lacks much of the violence that comes with tales of organized crime.

Not to say the movie didn’t involve its fair share of blood and death. You get to see the remains of drug abusers who over-dosed, one man commit suicide and Lucas blow the brains out of someone who owes him money.

Washington captured the persona of Lucas perfectly — true to his black cultural roots, but well spoken and very charismatic. He played the character that you know is bad, but want to succeed. Frank Lucas himself couldn’t have played the role better.

Crowe did an equally good portrayal of Roberts, complete with New York accent and mannerism. He was believable in his role as “good cop in a corrupt system.” Although he and Washington don’t share the screen until the last 20 minutes, their chemistry and the way they play off each other is enough to make the entire movie memorable.

I think probably my favorite character in the movie is Mama Lucas (Dee). She shines in her final scene after the police raid her house. She asks Lucas to stop whatever he’s been doing, reminding him that she never pestered him about it, and right when you think she’s going to break down and cry, she takes her hand and smacks him across the face, leaving Washington with a priceless expression.

If you go see this movie in the theater, wear comfortable clothes since it is very long, and don’t be disappointed in the lack of action scenes. There is action, but this is not an “action move,” and I don’t think it would have been as good if it were. The script, acting and direction were immaculate, so anything else may have taken away from the true talent of a remarkable cast and crew. The only boring part in the movie were the previews, and even they weren’t all that bad.

Click here for showtimes.