American Gangster
Monday, 19 Nov 2007 11:46
Denzel was damned if he'd be late again.
Directed by Ridley Scott, out in cinemas November 16th, starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Josh Brolin, running time 156 minutes.
In a nutshell...
Outcast cop plays cat and mouse with Harlem kingpin.
What's it all about?
During the increasing disillusionment with the Vietnam War and the rise of Richard Nixon, late 1960s Harlem was a buyer's market for the heroin trade. Dealers were selling heavily cut product to the addicted masses following the death of local Robin Hood gangster Ellsworth 'Bumpy' Johnson.
Johnson's right hand man, Frank Lucas, soon realised that the high-potency merchandise allegedly being consumed by American troops in Vietnam could be sourced, imported and distributed to the Manhattan ghetto - allowing him to gain control of a district sinking under the weight of men scrambling for his mentor's crown.
Meanwhile, honest-but-flawed cop Richie Roberts, having been charged with the task of bringing down Harlem's largest heroin cartels, stumbles upon Lucas' drug empire and builds the investigation that eventually sees the end of his reign.
Who's in it?
Oscar-winning duo Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe take the respective roles of Lucas and Roberts under the direction of Hollywood legend Ridley Scott.
Scott's career has arguably been going cold turkey over the past few years with the likes of 2006's A Good Year and 2005's Kingdom of Heaven. However, American Gangster is the film that could potentially reinstate him as a Hollywood kingpin following a recent spell as box office street-pusher.
Appearances from rising star Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' keen-but-dumb younger brother and Josh Brolin as the corrupt Detective Trupo nicely round off the cast in a film which is sure to be one of the year's most favoured Oscar contenders.
As an example...
Following Frank's wedding, Detective Trupo and his men ambush the newlyweds to demand protection money.
Lucas: "If you're not getting your share, maybe you should talk to the chief of police."
Trupo: "What's my share? 'Cos you don't even f**kin' know me. Maybe I'm special... you see that right there? Special Investigations Unit. Special. Get it? Ten grand, first of each month, deliver it right here."
Later, Frank confronts rival gangster Nicky Barnes over the watered down resale of his 'Blue Magic' heroin.
Barnes (laughing): "What the f**k you talkin' about man?"
Lucas: "What I'm talkin' about is when you chop my dope down, to one, two, three, four, five per cent and then you call it Blue Magic, that is trademark infringement... you know what I'm sayin'?"
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
This film knows its going to the Oscars. The actors know it, the director knows it and even the designer of the poster knows it. The only question is whether or not Russell Crowe will be happy with a 'best supporting' credit.
What the others say
"Crowe's Roberts is brawling, shabby and charismatic; Washington's Lucas is a cashmere-covered menace. They are worthy adversaries. It's perhaps a pity that we have to wait so long into the film for them to finally face each other." - Wendy Ide, Times
"What exactly is the story of Frank's rise and fall supposed to have shown us about gangsters, or about America? And if the answer is 'nothing', shouldn't we have had more fun?" - Dana Stevens, Slate Magazine
So is it any good?
American Gangster wants to impress you. From the opening scenes of a graphic gangland killing and the stark opening credits to the slick, lavish lighting and camera work throughout, the director wants you to know you are watching a modern crime epic.
Ridley Scott has pulled off a masterstroke by putting together two of Hollywood's most Oscar-friendly stars for a film that seems to makes no excuses about wanting to take its place alongside the Mann/Scorcese/Coppola gangster hall of fame.
However, herein lies the film's problem. The story is good, but not great. And the two-and-a-half hour plus duration seems to beg for the consideration of the Academy, while still culminating in an ending that seems paradoxically rushed.
Washington and Crowe spend so much time trying to understate their characters that they forget to make them compelling. When the two characters of Lucas and Roberts finally meet the speedy way in which the climax is handled makes you wonder why you bothered to develop numb buttocks and haven't been to the bathroom.
The film is beautifully shot with a soundtrack that is both haunting and dramatic. However, the best performances undoubtedly come from Josh Brolin's Detective Trupo, who steals every scene in which he appears, as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor in the role of Lucas' naive younger brother Huey.
There is no question that American Gangster is good, even very good. But the screenplay and central performances that could have lifted the movie to the status of great are somehow sadly lacking.
7/10
Noel Mellor
Agree with this review? Have a different opinion? Let us know your thoughts (without being too abusive to our poor reviewers please) and we'll post the best ones on the site.
Write your comments below: