Good, but not as good as many people say

Rating: 7/10 (18 March 2008)

This movie is solid work (as we could expect from maestro Scott) but nothing more. It definitely lacks something. Perhaps its character exposition/development, perhaps dialogs, perhaps the problem is uninspiring and stereotypical storytelling, perhaps lack of originality or not enough tension/dynamics. This movie has its moments, its true. I can not understand, however, how people may think it is comparable to such classic gangster pieces like the Godfather, Goodfellas, Carlito's Way or Casino. It is not comparable, unfortunately, it is not in the same league even. I can see these movies over and over, because there are pure magic in them. I doubt if i will see American Gangster more than one more time. I saw it once, i appreciate it, i don't miss it. It is too long, which is not the problem in itself. I know its fashionable to make long "epics" about 3 hours long and more but its not always good for the movie when there is not enough interesting plot, drama, tension, fascinating relations between characters. This is the case - long parts of the American Gangster are just boring because there was not enough substance to fill the "empty spaces". The paradox is that, on the other side, there are many things lacking here - especially on character development side, which could made us believe there are real people there, non Denzel and Russel playing their roles.
Good movie. Not classic. Never will be.