Double Feature today. Nobody used to notice Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the quiet driver to one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses. But when his boss suddenly dies, Frank exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade, flooding the streets with a purer product at a better price. Lucas outplays all of the leading crime syndicates and becomes not only one of the city's mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars.

Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an outcast cop close enough to the streets to feel a shift of control in the drug underworld. Roberts believes someone is climbing the rungs above the known Mafia families and starts to suspect that a black power player has come from nowhere to dominate the scene. Both Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that sets them apart from their own colleagues, making them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. The destinies of these two men will become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on top. Very good movie, long but necessary. Denzel AGAIN.....not much more to say on that. Not as violent as I had thought it would be. I give this movie a 7. Ken

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"Son, we are sorry about the tuition funds...your mother and I did not know you are not supposed to split tens..."

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"Son, we are sorry about the tuition funds...your mother and I did not know you are not supposed to split tens..."

No one saw this yet?? Ken

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"Son, we are sorry about the tuition funds...your mother and I did not know you are not supposed to split tens..."

Not out down here yet. Good review though Ken, really you should write them that length all the time. You're wasted on 5 line reviews.

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"Nothing is Written."

I saw this film and as much as I wanted to love it - being very much an admirerer of (most of) Russell Crowe's previous work - but I left the theater feeling only so-so about it.

Not all of that mild disappointment was the movie's fault. I'm sure much of it had a lot to do with a complete lack of interest in the subject matter and a little more had to do with the length of the film (2 hrs, 40 mins). I think my biggest issue - and I do realize that this is based on true events - was that I didn't care enough about the central characters. The bad guy was despicable, yes, but then again he mostly preyed (in terms of violent action) on people who were just as unlikeable as him. On the other hand, the good guy wasn't likeable enough for me to really want him to "win" as it were.

Overall, it was a good film. The imagery was good. The acting was good. The pace could've been quickened a bit but wasn't terribly off. But I really don't think it was worth the money paid to see it (between tickets and refreshments). I think I would've been better off just waiting for the DVD.

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the hype of it is what i think killed it. it was supposed to be such a great movie and it really was very mediocre, wasn't a waste of time or money but didn't quite live up to the hype. it was drawn out and was very flat. it never hit the swet spot for me. and it didn't and "that makes me sad all day".

in reference to what tyler said in another thread it is miles away from being compared to goodfellas or the departed

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The Departed is a class behind Goodfellas which is a class behind Godafther I and II.

American Gangster is about 5 classes behind The Departed.

I thought it dragged on too long. Although the plot was good and didn't make Lucas into this untouchable mob leader, it just missed something, perhaps that real bad ass who put stroke fear upon everyone.

Russel Crowe and Washington were impressive, but they were no Al Pacino or De Niro.

I criticse movies a lot, in fact almost all movies at all times, this one wasn't too bad justdragged on for 25-30 minutes too long.

Agreed 100% they could have taken out his friend being a junky and added some kind of intense action scene to make the movie more interesting.

They never put the real fear Lucus had into the movie, he seemed like your average everyday drug lord.

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i dont know what to tell you really, i am not a judge of other's people taste
but watching these 2 actors under the direction of ridley scott and re-creating authentic 70's atmosphere was a big treat

thx

Brilliant. Too long but brilliant. I loved the end. Denzel was amazing.