American Gangster (2007)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Steven Zaillian (written by)
Mark Jacobson (article)

Release Date:

2 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There are two sides to the American dream.

Plot:

In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East.

Plot Keywords:

Set On Fire | Black People | Drug Snorting | Black Men | Police Corruption

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Frank Lucas
Russell Crowe	...	Det. Richie Roberts
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Huey Lucas
Josh Brolin	...	Detective Trupo
Lymari Nadal	...	Eva
Ted Levine	...	Det. Lou Toback
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Nate
John Hawkes	...	Det. Freddie Spearman
RZA	...	Moses Jones
Yul Vazquez	...	Alphonse Abruzzo
Malcolm Goodwin	...	Jimmy Zee
Ruby Dee	...	Mama Lucas
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Doc
Carla Gugino	...	Laurie Roberts
Skyler Fortgang	...	Michael Roberts

Also Known As:

The Return of Superfly (USA) (working title)
Tru Blu (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.

Runtime:

157 min | USA:176 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Finland:K-15 | France:U (with warning) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:18 | Peru:14 | USA:R (certificate #43495) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Taiwan:R-18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Ireland:16 | Spain:18 | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16 | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18PL | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Briarcliff Manor, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

According to Peter Biskind's book "The Godfather Companion," a 1985 treatment and script for The Godfather: Part III (1990), co-written by Thomas Lee Wright and Nick Marino, included a character based on Nicky Barnes, played in “American Gangster” by Cuba Gooding Jr. When the script was briefly considered, Wright persuaded Eddie Murphy to take the role. Murphy reportedly said, "I would act in The Godfather for nothing."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When speaking with his nephew the baseball player in a scene set in 1972, Frank confronts him because the nephew missed a meeting he set up with the New York Yankees and Billy Martin. However, Martin did not manage the Yankees until 1975; he was managing the Detroit Tigers from 1971 to 1973.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bumpy Johnson: Happy Thanksgiving!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Stone, Cold

"My Man"

Ridley Scott's new flick American Gangster was a good one. Though Im not gonna be saying it's the best film of the year or anything like that. It was directed well, barely any dull scenes, great acting by an enormous cast and was really well-written. Unfortunately the story never seemed "new" to me. I was reminded of other drug-related/crime movies, like BLOW, CITY OF GOD, and evening TRAINING DAY....."My Man". Though it's in the leagues as being entertaining as the above mentioned movies, it really just never felt like I was watching a "new" story. But speaking of story, I never knew anything about Frank Lucas, and his story is fantastic. A black man who was more influential than his Mafian brethren? Tell me you're kidding. Nope, he was a force in Harlem back in the late 60s and early 70s and barely anyone knows about it. But for me this area of the film was the only stand out part. Sure there are other good scenes, done well, but nothing worth mentioning. Well, scratch that, naked women workin in a drug lab was an eye-opening scene.

Denzel Washington won the Oscar when he portrayed the crooked cop in Training Day who said "My Man" all the time. Well, in the American Gangster you got him saying this line again, and by God does he have it down. There are scenes when you know he's gonna say it, and he still pulls it off incredibly well. Denzel is one actor you really never have to worry about it in the acting department. You've got Russell "Mr. Oscar" Crowe playing the other lead, and like always, he always has the character down. He was great in this flick, the accent, the mannerisms, all of it. Though, his character's story was interesting in that he was in charge of the case to figure out who the big boy druglords were, his side story with his wife was for me the "dull" parts of the film. They were well-acted and all that, but mostly, it was just character development that isn't needed. Russell Crowe's good enough an actor to portray a struggling cop without a family problem. And also let me say Josh Brolin as the crooked cop was great. I didn't need a side-story of him doing tons of drugs and banging prostitutes....but ya know he was doing it.

American Gangster was a really good flick. It had amazing acting mixed with scenes that shed a new light on drug-trafficking....or should I say Old light. Though since there are so many other drug/crime cop films out there it seems a little been there done that. But don't let that sway you if you enjoy good movies and or crime films. And also, Frank Lucas is one hell of an interesting personality. My man. 8.5 outta 10