A Superior Gangster Film

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2010)

In the end it doesn't matter a lot how much of this film is true and how much is invented. Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the smooth, elusive drug king pin, was real. Although there are notes at the end about "where they are now," I don't know and don't care whether Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) was real or Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin), the shakedown artist, or Eva, Lucas's wife, played by the extraordinarily beautiful Lamari Nadal. What matters is that the story is masterfully told and directed with convincing attention to details by Ridley Scott.
True, it's a long movie but I thought all the details and side stories served the plot very well, and the acting was excellent, particularly by Washington, Crowe, Brolin and Ruby Dee as Mama Lucas. Ms. Nadal wasn't given a lot to do other than to be beautiful but she accomplished that mission marvelously well. I'm surprised she hasn't had many assignments since.