American Gangster
by Robbo
Posted on 8 June 2021
Rating -
American Gangster is a 2007 American biographical crime film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian.
In 1968, Frank Lucas (Washington) is the right-hand man of Harlem mob boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. When Johnson dies of a heart attack, Frank enters the heroin trade, buying directly from producers in Thailand and smuggling it into the U.S. through returning Vietnam War servicemen. Frank sells his heroin under the brand “Blue Magic”, whose affordability and purity make it incredibly popular, eliminating much of his competition.
Newark detective and aspiring lawyer Richie Roberts (Crowe) is ostracized in his precinct after handing in almost $1 million that he found in a mobster’s car, the majority of his fellow police officers being corrupt. After his outcast and addicted partner overdoses on Blue Magic, Captain Lou Toback (Levine) puts Roberts in charge of a special drug task force that targets major local drug suppliers and is allowed to build his own team.
Frank’s heroin racket prospers; he eventually sells Blue Magic wholesale to many dealers in the New York Tri-State Area and expands his distribution through other criminal organisations. With this monopoly, Frank becomes Harlem’s top crime lord, opening legitimate business fronts and maintaining a low profile, while befriending politicians and famous celebrities such as Joe Louis.
He buys a mansion for his mother and recruits his five brothers as his lieutenants. Frank eventually falls in love with and marries Eva, a Puerto Rican beauty queen. He attends the Fight of the Century with her, where Roberts spots Frank, notices he has better seats than the Italian mobsters, and begins investigating him. Frank also comes to odds with competing local gangster Nicky Barnes; corrupt NYPD detective Nick Trupo, who is among many people Frank is forced to bribe; and the Corsican mafia, who unsuccessfully attempt to assassinate Frank and his wife for putting them out of business.
One night, Roberts’ detectives witness one of Frank’s cousins, Jimmy Zee, shoot his girlfriend; he becomes their informant in lieu of being convicted. They make Jimmy wear a wire, through which they learn that Frank has negotiated one final shipment of heroin after the fall of Saigon.
American Gangster is gritty and brutal homage to classic gangster films with energetic performances from both lead actors reinforced by a stellar supporting cast.
It doesn’t feel like two and a half hours as it is completely engrossing, with smooth storytelling so you are totally invested.
I only saw this film recently, having put off watching it for a long time and I wish I hadn’t as this is a really good film, probably on my top 5 list of the best Ridley Scott films, and one I would highly recommend.
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