A well crafted picture of the "real" war that was going on during Vietnam.

Rating: 9/10 (6 November 2007)

One might imagine that "American Gangster" is merely another cops and robbers, good verses evil, film noire esq movie. Though this is true, there are so many other wonderful elements that are incorporated to bring it out of the typical good guy verses bad guy role. First, performances by both Washington and Crowe were very meaningful to their respected characters. In particular, Crowe portrayed a man who set himself apart from his daily life because of his morality. He was convincing and unforgettable.
What really set this film apart from others of the same genre was the fact that Ridley Scott included constant backdrops of the Vietnam war, clips of Richard Nixon giving various addresses on the nation's condition, and Scott took a risk by taking a bite out of America's biggest war to date: the war on drugs/drug use and organized crime. It's wonderful that when the film ends you are not sure who represents the "good" and who represents the "evil."
While there could be disputes made over the acting, be it a matter of opinion, Ridley Scott delivers yet another amazing film to his credentials. The 2 hour and 37 minute movie masters its subjects and delivers not only action, reality, and American history, but art as well. Scott paints a clear picture of some of the problems that the United States has within it's own borders. Certainly something to think about and appreciate given the current state of the world.