American Gangster (2007)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Steven Zaillian (written by)
Mark Jacobson (article)

Release Date:

2 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

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:

Heroin | Harlem | Death | Vietnam | 1970s

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 28 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15	1:30 AM	HBO
Fri. Nov. 20	2:15 AM	HBO

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Frank Lucas
Russell Crowe	...	Richie Roberts
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Huey Lucas
Josh Brolin	...	Detective Trupo
Lymari Nadal	...	Eva
Ted Levine	...	Lou Toback
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Nate
John Hawkes	...	Freddie Spearman
RZA	...	Moses Jones
Yul Vazquez	...	Alfonso Abruzzo
Malcolm Goodwin	...	Jimmy Zee
Ruby Dee	...	Mama Lucas
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Doc
Carla Gugino	...	Laurie Roberts
Skyler Fortgang	...	Michael Roberts
John Ortiz	...	Javier J. Rivera
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Nicky Barnes
Armand Assante	...	Dominic Cattano
Kathleen Garrett	...	Mrs. Dominic Cattano
Joe Morton	...	Charlie Williams
Ritchie Coster	...	Joey Sadano
Bari K. Willerford	...	Joe Louis
Idris Elba	...	Tango
Common	...	Turner Lucas
Warner Miller	...	Melvin Lucas
Albert Jones	...	Terrence Lucas
J. Kyle Manzay	...	Dexter Lucas
T.I.	...	Stevie Lucas (as Tip Harris)
Melissia Hill	...	Redtop
Quisha Saunders	...	Darlynn
Kevin Corrigan	...	Campizi
Robert Funaro	...	McCann
Jon Polito	...	Rossi
Tom O'Rourke	...	Banker
Robert C. Kirk	...	Police Captain
Tom Stearns	...	2-Star General
KaDee Strickland	...	Richie's Attorney
Jon DeVries	...	Judge James Racine
Jim R. Coleman	...	Bailiff
Lee Shepard	...	Laurie's Attorney
Gavin Grazer	...	Mike Sobota
Linda Powell	...	Social Worker
Roxanne Amandez	...	Paramedic
Norman Reedus	...	Detective in Morgue
Pierra Francesca	...	Stewardess
Eddie Rouse	...	Detective at Party
Maryann Urbano	...	Real Estate Broker (as Mary Ann Urbano)
Cedric Sanders	...	Serviceman in Cafe
Jason Veasey	...	Serviceman in Cafe
Roosevelt Davis	...	Army Captain
Roger Bart	...	US Attorney
Eric Silver	...	White Kid
Mitchell Green	...	Tango's Bodyguard
Saycon Sengbloh	...	Tango's Woman
Conor Romero	...	Tough Teenager
Daniel Hilt	...	Tough Teenager
Daniel Farcher	...	Tough Teenager
David Spearman	...	Civilian Cleaning Staff
Maurice Ballard	...	Civilian Cleaning Staff
Paul Doherty	...	TV Newscaster
William C. Tate	...	Baptist Minister (as William Tate)
George Lee Miles	...	Frank's Lawyer
Jason Furlani	...	Bailiff
Chris McKinney	...	Reporter on TV
Ric Young	...	Chinese General
David Wayne Britton	...	Army Colonel
Tommy Guiffre	...	Medical Examiner
Laurence Lowry	...	Paramedic
Dan Moran	...	Army Captain
Marjorie Johnson	...	Charlene
Larry Mitchell	...	FBI Agent
Chuck Cooper	...	Private Doctor
Kevin Geer	...	Law School Professor
Chance Kelly	...	MP
Hamilton Clancy	...	Seller
Sam Freed	...	Judge
Joey Klein	...	Chemist
Scott Dillin	...	4th Amigo (as Scotty Dillin)
Anthony Hamilton	...	Funk Band Singer
Sarah Hudnut	...	Assistant Prosecutor
Jeff Greene	...	Metal Door Worker
Tyson Hall	...	Drug Dealer
Kirt Harding	...	Drug Dealer
Bryant Pearson	...	Drug Dealer
Al Santos	...	Mechanic (as Alfredo Luis Santos)
William Hudson	...	Dealer
Christopher A. Sawyer	...	Dealer
Dylan Gallagher	...	Casket Loader
Jehan-Pierre Vassau	...	Narc Officer
Dawn Douglas	...	Narc Officer (as Dawn A. Douglas)
Robbie Neigeborn	...	Cop in Narc Headquarters
Clinton Lowe	...	Man Arrested in Elevator
Wilhelm Lewis	...	Head Wedding Photographer
James Hunter	...	Deacon
Neville White	...	Deacon
Lonnie Gaetano	...	Prison Guard
Jeff Mantel	...	Officer Walsh
Serena Joan Springle	...	The Proctor
Ron Piretti	...	Judge
Nino Del Buono	...	Announcer
Arthur Mercante	...	Referee (as Arthur M. Mercante)
Panama Redd	...	Policeman
Robert Wiggins	...	Piano Player
Fab 5 Freddy	...	Smalls Patron
Jonah Denizard	...	Store Manager
Steve McAuliff	...	Mounted Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Albanese	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Jonathan Aldridge	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Mauricio Alexander	...	Cop in Squad Room (uncredited)
Ephraim Benton	...	Thug #4 (uncredited)
Myo Campbell	...	Red Carpet Walker (uncredited)
Ismael Peter Casillas III	...	Baseball player (uncredited)
Kal Cauthen	...	Resturant Ambassador (uncredited)
John Cenatiempo	...	Cop #1 (uncredited)
Daniel R Cooper	...	Checker Player (uncredited)
J.W. Cortes	...	Narc Officer in Hallway (uncredited)
Ernest Dancy	...	Hustler (uncredited)
Cris D'Annunzio	...	Frank McNamara (uncredited)
Michael Den Dekker	...	Undercover Cop (uncredited)
Monique Dupree	...	Club dancer (uncredited)
Sharlene Falls	...	Club Dancer (uncredited)
Joseph Ferrante	...	Gangster at Funeral (uncredited)
Wanda Ferreiras	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Eddie Goines	...	Hallway Guy (uncredited)
Anthony L. Gurino	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Hristo Hristov	...	Bookie / Soldier (uncredited)
Joe James	...	Nicky Barnes Right Hand Man (uncredited)
Mark A. Keeton	...	Rock Star - Ali-Frazier Match (uncredited)
Atif Lanier	...	Frank Lucas Bodyguard (uncredited)
Shawn Luckey	...	Nicky Barnes' Guy (uncredited)
Racheline Maltese	...	Dying Junkie (uncredited)
Robert Nicotra	...	Gangster (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jerrod Paige	...	Muhammad Ali (uncredited)
Michelle Joan Papillion	...	Smalls Patron (uncredited)
Tasha Perri	...	Factory Worker (uncredited)
Kevin Pinassi	...	Building Maintenance Guy (uncredited)
Bartolo Raffaele	...	Gangster (uncredited)
Paula Rittie	...	Maid Of Honor (uncredited)
Enrique Sebastian Rivas	...	Narc Detective (uncredited)
Germir Robinson	...	Elevator kid with mom and sister (uncredited)
Louis Rosario	...	Teenage Vandal (uncredited)
Brigid Turner	...	Wilt Chamberlain's Girl, Waitress (uncredited)
Evelyn Vaccaro	...	Nicky's Girl (uncredited)
Tacuma Vanterpool	...	Junkie (uncredited)
Philippe Vonlanthen	...	Skeet Shoot Handler (uncredited)
Julian Walker	...	Smalls doorman (uncredited)
Adrian Washington	...	Detective Reynolds (uncredited)
Craig Weintraub	...	MSG Spectator (uncredited)
Clarence Williams III	...	Bumpy Johnson (uncredited)
Ray Wineteer	...	Photographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Ridley Scott

Writing credits (WGA)
Steven Zaillian		(written by)
Mark Jacobson		(article "The Return of Superfly")

Produced by
Sarah Bowen	....	co-producer
Michael Costigan	....	executive producer
Jonathan Filley	....	co-producer
Brian Grazer	....	producer
Branko Lustig	....	executive producer
Nicholas Pileggi	....	executive producer
Ridley Scott	....	producer
James Whitaker	....	executive producer (as Jim Whitaker)
Steven Zaillian	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marc Streitenfeld

Cinematography by
Harris Savides

Film Editing by
Pietro Scalia

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Arthur Max

Art Direction by
Nicholas Lundy

Set Decoration by
Sonja Klaus
Leslie E. Rollins
Beth A. Rubino

Costume Design by
Janty Yates

Makeup Department
Belinda Anderson	....	assistant hair stylist
Jutiporn 'Pie' Aranyaputi	....	makeup artist: Thailand (as Pie Arunyaphuti)
Qodi Armstrong	....	assistant hair stylist: second unit
John Caglione Jr.	....	makeup artist: Mr. Crowe
Carol 'Ci Ci' Campbell	....	key hair stylist: second unit (as Cici Campbell)
Larry M. Cherry	....	hair stylist: Mr. Washington
Carl Fullerton	....	makeup artist: Mr. Washington
Watana Garum	....	makeup department head: Thailand (as Geng Garum)
Paula Kelly	....	additional makeup artist
Don Kozma	....	assistant makeup artist
Linda Lazar	....	additional makeup artist
Bernadette Mazur	....	makeup department head
Diana Sikes	....	hair stylist: Mr. Crowe
Maneerath Vijob	....	hair department head: Thailand (as Tom Vijob)
Kenneth Walker	....	hair department head
Supakarn Yindee	....	hair stylist: Thailand (as Pui Yindee)
Bert Reo Anderson	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Brian Badie	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Robin Day	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Robin Day	....	wig stylist (uncredited)
Felice Diamond	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Christine Domaniecki	....	make-up artist (uncredited)
Christine Fennell	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)
Valerie Gladstone-Hapel	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Lorraine Godfrey	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Thom Gonzales	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Tina LaSpina	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Linda Lazar	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Craig Lindberg	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Craig Lyman	....	makeup supervisor: background (uncredited)
Craig Lyman	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Nzingha	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Susan Schectar	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)
Vincent Schicchi	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Linda Schonning	....	additional hair stylist: crowd (uncredited)
Michael R. Thomas	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Taurance F. Williams	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Leo Won	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jonathan Filley	....	unit production manager
Teresa Kelly	....	post-production supervisor
Branko Lustig	....	production manager
Lyn Pinezich	....	production supervisor
Sean T. Stratton	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Noreen R. Cheleden	....	second assistant director
Betsy Friedman	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Betsy Friedman-Palmieri)
Greg Gilman	....	additional second assistant director
Kali Harrison	....	second second assistant director
Jason Hightower	....	dga trainee
Abhijati 'Meuk' Jusakul	....	first assistant director: Thailand (as Muek Jusakul)
Christo Morse	....	first assistant director: second unit
Darin Rivetti	....	first assistant director
Phattana Sansumran	....	third assistant director: Thailand (as Na Sansumran)
Nick Vanderpool	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Veeranand Vanijaka	....	second assistant director: Thailand (as Kong Vanijaka)
Alexander Witt	....	second unit director
Guy Efrat	....	additional second second assistant director (uncredited)
Aaron D. Forste	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)
Nate Grubb	....	additional second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Madeline Austin-Kulat	....	art department intern
Jasmine E. Ballou	....	set dresser
Peter Baran	....	assistant art director
Charley Beal	....	assistant art director
Roland Brooks	....	charge scenic artist
Nattavut Buranakij	....	stand-by props: Thailand
Deborah Canfield	....	set dresser
Kelly Canfield	....	set dresser (as T. Kelly Canfield)
Patrice Canfield Longo	....	set dresser
Philip Canfield	....	leadman
Stephen H. Carter	....	assistant art director
Carolyn Cartwright	....	assistant set decorator
Paul Cheponis	....	assistant set decorator
Eric Cheripka	....	assistant property master
Lek Chaiyan Chunsuttiwat	....	art director: Thailand
Kaem Coughlin	....	assistant camera scenic: first unit
Kaem Coughlin	....	camera scenic: second unit
Kaem Coughlin	....	scenic artist
Ruth Deleon	....	on-set dresser (as Ruth Ann DeLeon)
Tara DiGerlando	....	graphics production assistant
Liza Donatelli	....	props department assistant
Maus Drechsler	....	assistant props (as Ana Katharina Drechsler)
Emily Gaunt	....	camera scenic artist
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Scott Getzinger	....	assistant props
Brent Godek	....	picture cars assistant coordinator
Apache Gonzalez	....	set dresser
Ken Goodstein	....	greensman
W. Steven Graham	....	assistant art director (as Steve Graham)
Robert Griffon Jr.	....	picture cars coordinator
Tim Grimes	....	props
Damon Hahn	....	set dresser
Chris Heaps	....	set dresser
Julia G. Hickman	....	art department coordinator
Richard Hoppe	....	set dresser (as Richard K. Hoppe)
Doug Huszti	....	assistant art director
Derrick Kardos	....	graphic designer
Susan Kaufman	....	assistant set decorator
Greg Kester	....	art department production assistant
Hinju Kim	....	assistant art director
Sonja Klaus	....	set decorator: Thailand
Erik Knight	....	art department coordinator
David Kruk	....	picture cars assistant
Luke Malloy	....	greens
Julie Marr	....	scenic artist
Dawn Masi	....	graphic artist
Jennifer Massi	....	art department assistant
Alexandra Mazur	....	assistant set decorator
Robin McAllister	....	property master: second unit
Charles E. McCarry	....	assistant art director
John McDonnell	....	assistant picture car coordinator
Edward Menashy	....	props
Ramona Messina	....	picture cars assistant
Sorayuk Mookleemas	....	stand-by props
Christine Moosher	....	buyer
Douglas A. Mowat	....	assistant set decorator
Rob Muia	....	assistant to the production designer
Don O'Reilly	....	greens department
Eric Pastore	....	set dresser
Leetal Platt	....	art intern
John Pollard	....	assistant art director
Boonsong Promjarune	....	painter
Sarah Riggs	....	picture cars assistant
Giovanni Rodriguez	....	scenic artist
Diana Salzburg	....	assistant set decorator
Karl Shefelman	....	storyboard artist
Max Sherwood	....	set dresser
Chris Shriver	....	assistant art director
Paul Steinberg	....	key shop electric
Joanna Tillman	....	art intern
Sylvia Trapanese	....	scenic artist
Omar Vaid	....	set dresser
Greg Voth	....	graphic artist: props
Lance R. Walters	....	set dresser
Joel Weaver	....	props: second unit
Terry Wells	....	property master
Alyssa Winter	....	assistant set decorator
Jen Day	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Geary	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Jorge Luis Gonzalez	....	key scenic industrial (uncredited)
Randy L. Parisian	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Sorayuth Sagrikananda	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Andrew Spagnoli	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor
Karen M. Baker	....	co-supervising sound editor (as Karen Baker Landers)
Bob Beemer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eddie Bydalek	....	sound mix technician
Mik Cribben	....	sound: second unit
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor (as Dino R. Dimuro)
Per Hallberg	....	supervising sound editor
Dan Hegeman	....	sound effects editor (as Daniel Hegeman)
Chris Hogan	....	adr editor (as Christopher W. Hogan)
Craig S. Jaeger	....	supervising foley editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr supervisor
George Leong	....	boom operator
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Kimaree Long	....	dialog editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Douglas Murray	....	adr mixer
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer
Tony Negrete	....	assistant sound editor (as Tony R. Negrete)
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Michelle Pazer	....	adr editor
Schavaria Reeves	....	sound
John Roesch	....	foley artist
William Sarokin	....	sound mixer
Frederick H. Stahly	....	dialogue editor
Peter Staubli	....	sound effects editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jon Title	....	sound effects editor
David Young	....	sound engineer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Phillip Beck	....	unit coordinator
Michael Bird	....	special effects foreman
Herbert Blank	....	special effects armourer: Thailand
Connie Brink	....	special effects director (as Conrad F. Brink Sr.)
Edward Drohan IV	....	special effects technician (as Edward A. Drohan IV)
Ittipol Kaweprapurt	....	special effects technician: Thailand (as Ex Ittipol)
Sarawut Moonpol	....	senior special effects technician: Thailand (as M. Moonpool)
Wiroj Nuansri	....	senior special effects technician: Thailand (as Roj Nuansri)
Watcharachai Panichsuk Sam	....	special effects supervisor: Thailand (as Samson Panichsuk)
Matt Vogel	....	special effects
Kevin Zack	....	special effects
Doug Facciponti	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Peter Regnier	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Kathryn Bolt	....	senior compositor
John Cairns	....	digital compositor: Gray Matter FX
Monika Chvatikova	....	visual effects coordinator: Gray Matter FX
Ashley Clark	....	visual effects producer
Sarah Coatts	....	visual effects producer: main title sequence: yU+co.
Christopher Cram	....	visual effects associate producer
Dick Edwards	....	visual effects producer: Invisible Effects
Diego Galtieri	....	matchmove artist
Brian Hanable	....	digital effects compositor: Pacific Title
Myung Kim	....	rotoscope artist: Gray Matter FX
Colin Liggett	....	lead digital compositor
Margaux Mackay	....	visual effects supervising producer: Gray Matter FX
Gray Marshall	....	visual effects supervisor: Gray Matter FX
Manuel Plank-Jorge	....	matte painter
Christian Severin	....	CG artist: Gray Matter FX
Wesley Sewell	....	visual effects supervisor
Trent Shumway	....	lead compositor: Gray Matter FX
Mattana Suthammasa	....	visual effect assistant: Thailand
S. Kai Bovaird	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator (as George Aguilar)
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunts
Chris Barnes	....	stunts
Joseph Baston	....	stunts
Philip C. Beck Jr.	....	stunts
Bobby Beckles	....	stunts
Christiana Blain	....	stunts
Jill Brown	....	stunts
Scott Burik	....	stunts
Jared Burke	....	stunts
Nicole Callender	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunt driver
John Cenatiempo	....	stunt performer
John Cenatiempo	....	utility stunts
Victor Chan	....	stunts
Rory Clarke	....	stunt double: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Lisa Cohen	....	stunts
Bob Colletti	....	stunt driver
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts
William Cote	....	stunt double
Douglas Crosby	....	stunts
Cris D'Annunzio	....	stunts
Peter Epstein	....	stunts
Aja Frary	....	stunts
Jason Garcia	....	stunt performer
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunts
Eddie Goines	....	stunts (as Eddie Goins)
Gabriel Hansen	....	stunt driver
Hollis Hill	....	stunts
Caroline Leppanen	....	stunt driver
Caroline Leppanen	....	stunts (as Caroline Vexler)
Cheryl Lewis	....	stunts
David S. Lomax	....	stunts
Jalil Jay Lynch	....	stunts
Curtis Lyons	....	stunt performer
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt actor
Paul Marini	....	stunt performer
Tim McAdams	....	stunts
Devon McKenzie	....	stunts
Angela Meryl	....	stunts
Kimberly Shannon Murphy	....	stunt performer
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Christopher Place	....	stunts
Thomas Place	....	stunts
Stephen A. Pope	....	assistant stunt coordinator (as Stephen Pope)
Robert Powell	....	stunt double: Denzel Washington
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunts (as Jodi Pynn)
J.C. Robaina	....	stunts
Jeremy Sample	....	stunts
Jason Silvis	....	utility stunts
Derrick Simmons	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt performer
Brian Smyj	....	fire stunts
Erik Solky	....	stunt double
Erik Solky	....	stunt driver
Jay Spadaro	....	stunt driver
D.J. Surgent	....	stunts
Aaron Vexler	....	stunt double: Russell Crowe
Jeff Ward	....	stunts
Copes White	....	stunts
Gus Williams	....	stunts
Jared Williams	....	stunts
Christiana Zephir	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Arisohn	....	additional electrician
Mark Beattie	....	additional electrician
Adam Benlifer	....	additional electrician
Matt Blades	....	dolly grip first unit
Matt Blades	....	key grip: second unit
Eric Boncher	....	electrician
Phil Bradshaw	....	grip
Ronald Burke	....	dolly grip (as Ron Burke)
Travis Cadalzo	....	Steadicam operator
Travis Cadalzo	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Cambria	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Christopher Cannucciari	....	additional electrician
David M. Carr	....	best boy rigging grip
James Casey	....	grip
Sean Cassidy	....	grip
Andrew Cavagnet	....	additional video assistant
Fred Cohen	....	shop electrician
Alisa M. Colley	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Chris Drechsler	....	electrician
David M. Dunlap	....	camera operator: "c" camera
Edwin Effrein	....	first assistant Steadicam
Edwin Effrein	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Micah Eisenmann	....	rigging electrician
Lauren E. Enfield	....	rigging grip
Ted Erne	....	crane technician: SuperTechno 30
Daniel Feighery	....	assistant camera
Greg Finkel	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
McCord Fitzsimmons	....	video assist operator
Kevin Flynn	....	key rigging grip
Timothy Flynn	....	rigging grip
Patrick Fontana	....	rigging electrician
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer
Patrick J. Galvin	....	electrician
Gerald Gloster	....	grip
Dennis Green	....	24 frame video operator
Shawn Greene	....	electrician
Scott Gregoire	....	lamp operator
Joseph Grimaldi	....	best boy electric (as Joe Grimaldi)
Craig Haagensen	....	camera operator: "a" camera
David Kurt Harris	....	electrician
Elizabeth Hedges	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
Joel Holland	....	key video assist operator
Chien Huey	....	camera production assistant
Larry Huston	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
Meg Kettell	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera
Chris Kilduff	....	best boy grip
Jarrod Kloiber	....	additional electrician
Jeremy Knaster	....	electrician
Jason Lanci	....	rigging electrician
David Lee	....	still photographer
Brian C. Mackey	....	camera loader: second unit
Lou Massa	....	grip
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Larry McConkey	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Keith McNicholas	....	electrician
William Moore	....	lighting technician
William D. Moran	....	dolly grip (as Bill Moran)
Jeff Muhlstock	....	additional camera operator
Francine Natale	....	rigging electrician
Paul Niccolls	....	grip: second unit
Monty Nielsen	....	electrician
Anna Novick	....	grip
Bill O'Leary	....	gaffer
Wayne Paull	....	additional camera operator
Andrew Peck	....	camera loader
Louis Petraglia	....	rigging electric best boy
Balint Pinczehelyi	....	grip
Michael J. Prate	....	grip
Tom Prate	....	key grip
Brian Raby	....	rigging electrician
Michael Rudolph	....	generator operator
Nat Russell	....	rigging grip
Daniel D. Sariano	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera: day player
Mark Schmidt	....	camera operator: second unit
George Selden	....	electrician
Simon Shen	....	additional electrician
Robert Stevers	....	generator operator (as Bob Stevers)
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Phil Testa	....	best boy: second unit
Travis Tips	....	additional rigging electrician
Robert Vuolo	....	gaffer: second unit
Michael Wacks	....	lamp operator
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician
Franz Yeich	....	grip
Franz Yeich	....	rigging grip
Rashad Clinton	....	grip (uncredited)
Alexander Witt	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Chris Zizzo	....	electrician: action unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jolanda Anthony	....	extras casting assistant
Cody P. Beke	....	casting assistant
Billy Dowd	....	extras casting
Richard Kathlean	....	extras casting assistant
Terry L. Lamfers	....	casting administrator
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Yves Wilson	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Adkins	....	costume shop supervisor
Pattie J. Barbosa	....	costumer
Dan Bronson	....	assistant costume designer
Laurie Buehler	....	costume shop supervisor
Adam Butera	....	wardrobe assistant
Danielle Cadorette	....	wardrobe
Michael Castellano	....	costumer: Mr. Crowe
David Crossman	....	costume supervisor: Thailand
Kimmie Dellechiaie	....	costume production assistant
Debbe DuPerrieu	....	set costumer
Courtney Aura Freeman	....	wardrobe assistant (as Courtney Freeman)
Risa Garcia	....	set costumer
Jessica Glenn	....	costume assistant
Staci Greenbaum	....	costume production assistant
Emily Gunshor	....	costume coordinator
Jared B. Leese	....	costume shopper
Vern Malone	....	set costumer
Estella Marie	....	set costumer: Ruby Dee
Carmia Marshall	....	background costumer
Tim McKelvey	....	additional wardrobe
Winsome G. McKoy	....	costumer
Neil Murphy	....	wardrobe master: Thailand
Elizabeth Muxi	....	seamstress
Elizabeth Muxi	....	tailor
David Paulin	....	chief costume dyer/ager
Suzanne Pettit	....	costume fitter
Andy Plovnick	....	wardrobe production assistant
Chuck ReCar	....	costume ager/dyer
Lora E. Revitt	....	costume illustrator
Frank Perry Rose	....	costumer: Mr. Washington (as Frank Rose)
Amy Roth	....	assistant costume designer
Autumn Saville	....	assistant costume designer
Jennifer Schilling	....	costume production assistant
Christine Schultz	....	costume fitter
Sarah Shears	....	costume production assistant
Omar J. Simmons	....	costumer
Paul Simmons	....	key principal costumer
Thomas M. Smalley	....	additional wardrobe assistant
Thomas Stokes	....	costumer
Michelle Elaine Teague	....	costumer
Peter White	....	costumer
Pamela Wint	....	wardrobe production assistant
Jeffrey Wirsing	....	costume ager/dyer

Editorial Department
Robert Drwila	....	assistant editor
Chris Jacobson	....	colorist
Robert Mead	....	apprentice editor
David Orr	....	film timer
Billy Rich	....	first assistant editor
Scot Starbuck	....	colorist: dailies
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor (as Joey Violante)
Chisako Yokoyama	....	first assistant editor: film

Music Department
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Bryan Clements	....	scoring crew
Peter Cobbin	....	score mixer
Peter Cobbin	....	score recordist
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	orchestra contractor
Nick Delaplane	....	music assistant
Mark Eshelman	....	scoring crew
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Steven Fowler	....	orchestrator (as Steve Fowler)
Walt Fowler	....	orchestrator
Rick Giovinazzo	....	orchestrator
Luana Jackman	....	vocal contractor
Greg Loskorn	....	scoring technician
Jamie Luker	....	digital score recordist
Jamie Luker	....	music scoring engineer
Craig Mann	....	score mix technician
David Marquette	....	scoring crew
Adam Michalak	....	score recordist
Yvonne S. Moriarty	....	orchestrator (as Yvonne Moriarty)
Goh Nakamura	....	musician: bass & guitars
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Michael Nowak	....	conductor (as Mike Nowak)
Tim Rodier	....	music preparation
Hank Shocklee	....	composer: additional music
Hank Shocklee	....	score producer: additional source music
Del Spiva	....	music editor
Gina Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor

Transportation Department
Frank Bonsangue	....	driver
Nitad 'Lek' Srisomsap	....	action vehicles: Thailand (as Lek Srisomsub)
John 'Detroit' White	....	driver: honeywagon

Other crew
Dudley Arbaugh	....	set production assistant
Kimi Armstrong	....	executive assistant: Mr. Grazer
Francis Arpaia	....	production assistant
Megan Asbee	....	production assistant
Amal Baggar	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Brian K. Barnes	....	location assistant
Garrett Basch	....	assistant: Mr. Zaillian
De'andre Beard	....	production assistant
Deborah Becker	....	second assistant accountant
Lola Belsito	....	executive assistant: B. Lustig
Lola Belsito	....	production coordinator: Thailand
Alex Bergman	....	production assistant
Craig Bilsky	....	digital laboratory project manager
Mirashyam Blakeslee	....	production assistant
Nick Bommer	....	production assistant
Antonio Bonilla	....	production assistant
Travis Burdick	....	additional set production assistant
Alexander Burns	....	location production assistant
Myo Campbell	....	production assistant
Neil Carter	....	technical advisor: police
Cindy Carvalho	....	contact lens technician
Frank Cattano	....	location assistant
Jared Cauliffe	....	set production assistant: second unit
Andrew Cavagnet	....	production assistant
Audrey Chon	....	assistant: Mr. Whitaker
Richard Joel Cohen	....	photo double
Darin Collins	....	office production assistant
Katherine DeJesus	....	accounting clerk
Judy Dickerson	....	dialect coach: Russell Crowe
Guy Efrat	....	assistant location manager
Fletcher Elkington	....	location assistant
Uzoma Emukah	....	stills intern
Abby Eon	....	location assistant
Francisco Escobar	....	production assistant
Jason Farrar	....	location manager: second unit
Ryan Ferguson	....	location assistant
Nicole E. Ferrari	....	assistant production coordinator
McCord Fitzsimmons	....	additional video technician
Anna Flam	....	production assistant
Dan Gates	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Oorlagh George	....	assistant: Mr. Filley
Sky Gewant	....	additional set production assistant: second unit
Samuel Glen	....	armorer
Audra Gorman	....	location scout
Jose F. Guerrero	....	location assistant
Joe Guest	....	assistant location manager
Rob Harris	....	unit publicist
Hassan Heyward	....	location assistant
Heather Holty	....	digital laboratory project manager
Nick Houy	....	production assistant
Pino Insegno	....	voice dubbing: Denzel Washington
Molly Irwin	....	set intern
Jule Ann Jappe	....	location assistant
Kate Johnson	....	additional accounting clerk
Timothy S. Kane	....	production assistant
Matthew Kania	....	location assistant
Mary A. Kelly	....	script supervisor
Russ Klein	....	office production assistant
Michael Kriaris	....	location manager
William Laviano	....	production assistant
Phillip Leung	....	production assistant
Kendra Levenberg	....	location coordinator
Kirstin Liu	....	production secretary
Michael C. Lizzio	....	production assistant
Michael Lloyd	....	runner
Faya Madrid	....	production: second unit
Natascha Maksimovic	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Luke Marion	....	set production assistant
J.D. Marlow	....	production assistant
Theresa Marsh	....	first assistant production accountant
Terry McAllister	....	security: Mr. Crowe
Kerri McDermott	....	production assistant: inflatable mannequins
Timothy McGroarty	....	set boy
David M. McGuire	....	location assistant
Ademola McMullen	....	additional production assistant
Alex Mechanik	....	production assistant
Carlos Medeiros	....	production assistant
Héctor Meza	....	location assistant
Héctor E. Meza	....	location production assistant
Bruno Michels	....	set production assistant
Bradley Miles	....	production assistant
Heidi Brook Myers	....	adr loop group
Jennie Myers	....	accounting clerk
Kate Newbold	....	assistant: Janty Yates, UK
Mario Nila	....	production assistant
Tjamal Noni	....	location assistant
Robert Noonan	....	set production assistant
Anil Patadé	....	location accountant: Thailand
Melanie Patterson	....	production assistant
Rita Pearson	....	executive assistant: Mr. Washington
Monica Perez Gelbman	....	post-production accountant
Matthew Perkins	....	production assistant
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security: Mr. Crowe
Patrick Tendai Pfupajena	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer (as Patrick Pfupajena)
Phuong-Thuy Pham	....	location assistant
Mike Phillips	....	production accountant
Lyn Pinezich	....	production supervisor
Maresa Pullman	....	assistant: Mr. Costigan
Hakim Quest	....	product placement
Hakim Quest	....	researcher
Angela Quiles	....	production coordinator
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote head technician
Julie Retzlaff	....	additional location scout
Bill Richards	....	aerial coordinator/pilot (as William Richards)
Michael A. Rizzo	....	production assistant
Steven Robbins	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Roberts	....	production assistant
Keith Rodger	....	assistant: Mr. Crowe (as Keith W. Rodger)
Chris Rodriguez	....	production assistant
Justin Rosini	....	location assistant
Teddy Schenck	....	production assistant
Jordan Sheehan	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Neville Shulman	....	special advisor: Mr. Scott
Daryl Sledge	....	additional production assistant
Darryl A. Smith	....	payroll accountant
Jeff Solano	....	set production assistant
Nitad 'Lek' Srisomsap	....	animals: Thailand (as Lek Srisomsub)
Don Tai	....	dialect coach: adr
Amy Teitter	....	production assistant
Thomas Tobin	....	production assistant
Rachel Townsend	....	production assistant
Ingrid Urich-Sass	....	additional script supervisor
Fernando Vallejo	....	production assistant
Kai Van Der Putten	....	set location assistant
Christopher Van Jura	....	production assistant
Jamie Vermilye	....	set production assistant
Denise Violante	....	production assistant
Carolyn Erika Walter	....	stand-in: KaDee Strickland
Ricky R. Weaver	....	assistant: Mr. Washington (as Rick R. Weaver)
Heather Weeks	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Matthew H. Wiesner	....	location assistant
Neil Winterlich	....	research consultant
Jason Working	....	additional production assistant
Garson Yu	....	title designer and supervisor
Tasha Zamsky	....	animal trainer
Richard Connors	....	location scout (uncredited)
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Patricia Rybarczyk	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Muhammad Ali	....	thanks
Marilu Cristina Flores	....	special thanks
Joe Frazier	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Imagine Entertainment
• Relativity Media
• Scott Free Productions

Distributors

• Bontonfilm (2008) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2008) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Tatrafilm (2008) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Intercontinental Video (2008) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Russia) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)

Special Effects

• Gray Matter FX (visual effects)
• Invisible Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ABC News Video Source  footage courtesy of (as ABC News Videosource)
• ARRI  cameras and lenses
• Archive Films  footage supplied by
• Atlantic Cine Equipment  super technocrane
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  thanks (as Birds and Animals)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)  footage courtesy of (as The BBC)
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• CSC  cameras and lenses
• Corbis  photographs
• FedEx  thanks (location)
• Getty Images  footage supplied by
• Gotham Sound  walkies provided by
• Historic Films  footage courtesy of (as History Films)
• Inflatable Crowd Company, The  inflatable mannequins
• Inter Video  24 frame equipment
• Invisible Effects  opticals
• Island Def Jam Music Group  soundtrack
• Library of Congress  footage courtesy of
• NBC News Archives  footage courtesy of
• Packair Airfreight  international logistics
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Professional Sound Services  sound equipment provided by
• RPM Group  promotion and marketing
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  cellular fax rentals
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sony Scoring Stage  score recorded at
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Technicolor  color
• Technicolor  dailies (as Technicolor New York)
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  score mixing services (as Todd-AO West)
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  sound re-recording services (as Todd-AO West)
• Varèse Sarabande  score album
• yU+Co.  main title design

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 | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Briarcliff Manor, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

James Gandolfini was offered the role of Detective Trupo, but turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Detective Richie commandeers the cab and knocks the cab driver out, the knocked out driver disappears and reappears in scenes following the Ford Bronco through the turns on passenger side of cab.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bumpy Johnson: Happy Thanksgiving!

Movie Connections:

References Super Fly (1972)

Soundtrack:

Railroad

a big, intense American crime movie, led by stars and director in top form

American Gangster seems on the surface to be what has been dubbed by some critics as "the black Scarface." As Ridley Scott's new film details, this isn't really the case aside from the point of 'rose up from nothing became something through crime', which could be said about almost every gangster film including the Godfather. Here Scott and screenwriter Steve Zaillian, without calling attention to it ala Paul Haggis, have made a film about class issues underneath the typical gangster-movie form. Even more than the Departed, one sees as the film goes on an environment of paradox: Frank Lucas was a low-life, a killer, a ruthless thug, and at the same time found time to take his mother to church every Sunday and gave out turkeys to folks in the neighborhood while providing them enough dope to die off in the process.

In fact, Scarface has got nothing on Frank Lucas when it comes to moral complexity: here's a man who did rise up out of poverty, learned the stakes of gang life as a driver for the Harlem boss for fifteen years, and then after he died cut out the middle-man as an importer of the freshest product of heroin right out of Vietnam. Then through this there's a whole other level to American Gangster; Scott and Zaillian could have made it simply a saga of betrayals and investigation via Richie Roberts. But the side that one saw in Serpico is amplified here- it becomes all the more engrossing to see how the crooked cops and "honest" gangster Lucas were linked together, which also leads to an ending that amps up the interest. Lucas didn't get out like Henry Hill, but a good man all the same? Probably not (he ended up in jail again, as the film doesn't point out).

So there's a lot of story to explore, and Scott makes it one of the most invigorating, nostalgic (ironically speaking) New York crime films in years, as far as the storytelling goes. And like Heat, Scott gets a lot of mileage from his star power. Washington goes even deeper into the role of the villain than he did in Training Day- he plays him as classic family man, cold businessman, and charming man-of-the-community. He makes it so much his role that you can't imagine anyone else going down a Harlem street shooting a guy point blank in the head. And Crowe also adds some good subtlety to the piece, a flawed man with his family and someone who tries to keep his morality straight (the million dollars given in to the station) amidst total bully-crooks like Josh Brolin's "special" detective. By the time the two stars finally sit down for one scene, it's on par with De Niro and Pacino.

Why not a 10/10 or 4 stars? It is, despite a rightfully fleshed out narrative, with some unnecessary bits (Cuba Gooding Jr, what happened there?) on a two hour and forty minute picture. But Scott does make American Gangster gain momentum as it goes along and reaches a powerhouse climax that is first intense and bloody (it IS Scott after all), followed by a striking human angle. And it holds nothing on Scarface, at the end of it all, as far as being legitimately dramatic without the ham, as the actors and director click for most part on material that just needs to be told without any pretension- and with that dose of significance of real urban crime in the 1970s in NYC.