The Black Godfather (Classic Denzel)

Rating: 8/10 (24 October 2007)

Where to start?
This is a plot driven movie, so if you're expecting a shoot-em' up Arnold hack job, one, you should seriously consider changing your taste in movies, and two, a mindless shoot-em'-up would be near heresy considering the acting pedigree of Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe.
Denzel offers the stoic, eloquent, controlled fury Denzel is famous for. Thankfully most of the movie revolves around him. Crowe's role is rather small by Russel Crowe standards.
We follow Denzel's character, Frank Lucas, as he begins to establish his heroin empire in Harlem, meanwhile Crowe's character, is mainly concerned with him piecing together Lucas' ingenious smuggling ring as he heads up the newly formed drug enforcement police. Denzel's shockingly vengeful character is built throughout the movie, while Crowe's is sparse, as it should be.
There is an interesting side story battle between Denzel and a particularly corrupt cop, who himself has a very interesting end.
The movie stays true to the actual story, and the period, as unbelievable as it is At first you find yourself rooting for the bad guy, however Scott carefully details the effect Lucas' organization is having on the community, which then lends you to appreciate the job of the police.
The end of the movie wraps up nicely with a summary of all the main characters' endings, and some very interesting facts about the original 70's era drug enforcement cops. The most interesting being that three-quarters where convicted on corruption charges!
Another Denzel classic!!!