Ground control to Ridley Scott? Do you read? Come in Ridley Scott!? Hollywood, we have a problem!

Rating: 6/10 (5 January 2008)

Just saw the new Ridley Scott movie American Gangster. IMDb.com has it rated at 8.2/10 but I just don't get it. I remember when Scorseses Gangs of New York came out. I just could not wait to see it. Man, did that movie bomb. And damn did American Gangster disappoint too. It's not that the casting and acting was bad. Actually they were both great. It was the direction and the storytelling that lacked big time. At no time during the nearly 3 hours the movie played did I connect with any of the characters. It was like a summary of a 'true story'. There were some promising bits in the movie that could have made this a much better experience, but it never delivered. Yes, I was entertained for nearly 3 hours but I was also entertained by the movie Shoot 'm up, maybe even more. The only reason I would rate American Gangster higher is the powerhouse cast. That and the bad direction is the only thing that stands out. Ridley, please don't miss twice in a row like Scorsese did with his two gangster movies: Gangs of New York and The Departed (which only won an Oscar because Scorsese was overdue for one). The Ridley Scoot that I knew: Blade Runner, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, The Company, (and I could go on, but I won't do that because it will ruin his track record), was the guru film director, the Yoda of movies, the godfather of cinema. Now he has straid from the path and has now become a mediocre director. Please find your way back. Preferably before your next movie, please. The same goes for Scorsese!