Real life drug crime drama

Rating: 10/10 (23 September 2009)

Ridley Scott's epic drug lord / police corruption drama is a marvellous affair. Denzel Washington, cast against type as Frank Lucas, simmers in his role as the drug boss lynch pin of New York, responsible for trafficking heroin direct from the source in The Golden Triangle, a region which encompasses areas of Burma, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, allowing him to ship the substance into the US and sell it at a higher quality and lower price than any of his rivals, transforming the drug scene in the city and propelling him to most wanted status in a very short space of time. His actions cause many problems for the authorities, not least amongst them the fact that, to begin with at least, they have no idea who he is, nor any clue as to how he is managing to sell such high grade scag for such a low cost. A narcotics unit is set up, led by a rather scruffy looking Russell Crowe to figure out who is behind the sudden deluge of smack, but it's not just the criminals who are working against him. The New York Police Department itself is rife with corruption, with literally dozens of officers taking bribes and back-handers to ensure that the flow of drugs and, therefore, money continues and, inevitably, they are none too keen for the ultimate provider of their illicit fortunes to be taken down. Intelligent, intense though never over-bearing, this is a thinking mans thriller. Based on the real life of Lucas, this treads ground similar to the equally excellent TV show The Wire, where nothing is absolute, there are no black and white's. The good guys are as corrupt as the supposed bad guys and the bad guys are as liable to attend church as they are to gun down a cop. A fascinating insight into a city whose authorities are spiralling into anarchy and chaos, the running time of nigh on three hours passes in no time. Excellent stuff.