Frank Lucas. Born September 9, 1930 in Lenoir County, North Carolina. From meager beginnings became the biggest African Amercan drug lord in the history of the United States.
This movie tells the story of Frank and on the other side, Richie Roberts the New Jersey detective that ran the operation to bring him down. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe bring these two historic figures to life and the movie doesn't let up for nearly three hours as we see the beginning of Frank's rise and Richie's ideals that force the impending collision. The movie also showcases Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and even Cuba Gooding Jr. shows us why he got that Oscar soooo long ago.
In 1995, the movie Heat was released. The modern day tale of a master bank robber, his men and the lawmen that brought them down. See the similarities? I'm betting Universal Pictures wants you to focus on the history so that you don't realize you watched this movie 12 years ago with The Godfathers themselves in the leads. Really, who can forget Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in arguably the biggest movie of that year?
What really matters is that none of that matters. This movie holds it's own and won't let you out of the seat to go to the restroom. If you do actually leave the theater to go to the restroom during a movie then get off this site, you're no fan.
This movie has it's own story to tell and that's what helps it differ from Heat. The fact that Frank Lucas was wise enough to go to the source. Cut out the middleman and sell his pure product on the streets of Harlem at a discount to the other hustlers tells you the genius. A man that nobody suspected because he appeared so clean that everybody knew him but the people who should have. This movie doesn't back down from the facts and shows the rough, but intelligent criminal genius in all it's glory.
You've seen Denzel's fury in Training day. Animal fury. This is different. This is cold, calculating, determined fury. Chilling. In every scene you know who's in charge. Clean the mantle Mr. Washington, you may need room for another gold statue.
On the other side of the coin is our hero. The incorruptible Richie Roberts as played by Russell Crowe. Flawed certainly, and that side is played up to show some form of vice in an otherwise saintly figure. For a long time, I preferred to skip Mr Crowe's movies. That all changed when he brought one of my greatest heroes from literature to life in Master and Commander. He did my imagination justice and I will pay attention to his movies for the remainder of his career.
In this movie, Russell plays the part perfect. With the smarts to figure it out, the naivety to show he is perhaps over his head, and the spirit to do the right thing. No matter what. You don't know who to root for in this film. You know how it's going to end, you know one of these men is a vicious killer in more than one way, but you almost want to root for both characters.
The movie moves at a perfect pace, keeping all the danger present. The intrigue sweeping along to a fantastic conclusion, once again reminiscent of the Godfather films. When Russell seems to be on to the operation you want him to succeed, you're right there with him wishing him to expose all the corruption. When Denzel seems to make a last huge attempt to keep the family alive, you want him to prevail, to keep the cops at the door sniffing for a trail they'll never piece together.
In my mind, I want to slight this movie a little bit. But I can't come up with a reason to do that. So this movie is my first full rating with 5 pure bricks out of 5 pure bricks. Don't kid yourself, this movie is very violent. See it in the theater, but be prepared, American Gangster doesn't &*%# around!
Elijah
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