American Gangster

Pros: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Story, Direction
Cons: Lengthy, but the story warrants it

American Gangster (2007) Ridley Scott continues to show he is the greatest director working today. Sure, he has had a few bombs but so did John Ford and John Huston; yet Scott has had some great successes, even from his very first movie ...

Pros: period background, Crowe, soundtrack that stays out of the foreground, no glamorization of drugs
Cons: very long with underdeveloped black characters and too many shots of needles

Ridley Scott has shot over 2000 commercials, so one might think he might make lean movies. One would be mistaken! His movies have strong visuals, for sure (Alien, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner, the little-known The Duelists, etc.) and often have ...

Pros: Extremely talented cast, and excellent script.
Cons: Two hour and forty-five minute runtime.

American Gangster (2007) is another one of those popular mobster flicks that’s based on a true story. In this movie the story is about an infamous 1960 Harlem drug lord name Frank Lucas who deals heroin. Hollywood heavyweights and Academy Award ...

Pros: acting, cast, imagery, directing
Cons: long length, historical significance, some unnecessary subplots

In the New York City of American Gangster, it's hard to tell the cops from the criminals. Police officers consistently accept bribes from criminals, get a little overzealous with their guns during raids, and indulge in some of the drugs they ...

Pros: Brilliantly shot, well acted, gritty atmosphere
Cons: Some historical changes are annoying, supporting cast is wasted

Overtime I have developed a taste for what one might call gangster or mob movies. I have viewed a fair amount of them and I though American Gangster would be pretty good. It was but it was not nearly as good as the classics like Goodfellas or Godfather. ...

Pros: There's not one thing in here that's not Oscar worthy.
Cons: None

Would I be overdoing it by calling “American Gangster” an American masterpiece? I don’t think I’ve enjoyed any other movie this year more than this one. This is vintage Ridley Scott, who shows us why he’s possibly the best filmmaker working today and, in ...

Pros: Story, cast, epic scope
Cons: It's a polished production

I think my gripe with American Gangster is that it feels like a polished Hollywood epic than a down and dirty production that strips away everything except the bare essentials. But don't get me wrong. It's still a hell of a good movie but one can ...

Pros: May well be considered the best gangster flick of the decade...
Cons: Drug content may be unsuitable for some audiences...

The brutal effects of Vietnam on the psyche of the American nation has been explored in countless ways by the motion picture industry, but none as unique as American Gangster as of late. It was during the Vietnam Era that we saw bean counters ...

Pros: Interesting story and strong performance by Denzel.
Cons: Predictable. A few directing and acting flaws.

America has been glorifying gangsters way before hip hop and gangster rap, way before television “The Sopranos” (1999), hit movies Scarface (1983) and Goodfellas (1990). Guns and seemingly limitless funds (read “fun”) were an end and a ...

Pros: Excellent acting, directing, and screenwriting.
Cons: Maybe 20 minutes too long, and live characters are not very good role models.

Ok, don't take offense, before there was the "Change Guy", there was Frank Lucas, who did really change things.  In the dope world that is.  Now for more serious fodder.  I don't really like to read other reviews about a movie ...

Pros: Cast; action; screenplay; cinematography; just about everything else
Cons: Some flashbacks created confusion at times; climactic bust on drug house is quick and chaotic

I've recently seen several "chick flicks" and romance stories so maybe I chose to see this one to bring up the testosterone level. Wow, did it ever! "American Gangster" is based on a true story (written by Steven Zaillian who did Schindler's List) ...

Pros: Acting performances of Washington and Crowe are both top notch.
Cons: Sad commentary on society.

It is a generally accepted fact that organized crime has been and always will be an amazingly lucrative and profit driven enterprise that seeks new and innovative ways to do just one thing: impact positively the bottom line. The money that is garnered ...

Pros: Denzel Washington helps convey the story of Frank Lucas
Cons: I came to see Denzel, not Crowe. The Hughes Brothers woulda made a better film.

MADE IN AMERICA American Gangster (directed by Ridley Scott) tells the story of Frank Lucas’ rise to power – as a major Heroin kingpin in Harlem during the 60’s - in the wake of the death of Ellsworth “Bumpy” ...

Pros: Movie writing, acting, and direction at full strength
Cons: As befits the subject matter, much graphic violence and drug use

It's astonishing how far dysfunctional families will go to convince themselves that they’re not living a lie. In American Gangster, the dysfunctional family is the American heroin market. The head of the family is druglord Frank Lucas (Denzel ...

Pros: great directing, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, some memorable scenes
Cons: spends 30 minutes repeating how Frank "cut out the middleman", flatlines at the end

The “Unrated” and extended edition of American Gangster goes to show just how clever Hollywood marketing is. “Unrated” makes it sounds like it has more sex and violence because the MPAA doesn’t review it, but for American Gangster, ...