The most important thing in business is...

Rating: 8/10 (28 December 2010)

I like to think about this movie as the way the poster depicts it. In the same color.
Its trailer itself is better than many movies made across the globe.
I agree that its no Godfather or Goodfellas. Neither is the story completely true to the facts. (I wished that the scene where *Frank is coming out of the church and Ritchie is waiting outside to arrest him* had happened in reality). But then... its a very stylish, charismatic and surprisingly inspiring tale of two completely different people.
While Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) remains irresponsible to his family engrossing himself into making a career out of cleaning the streets as a loyal and honest cop, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) is dedicated to his family's progress by involving them into the profitable business of importing pure quality of drugs from Vietnam and plaguing the streets with it. Ritchie lifts up his career by destroying Frank's.
What is similar in both these characters, however, is that... both of them are striving for something morally correct even after being the killers in two opposite sides of the law. Ritchie fighting against corruption in his own side. And Frank establishing himself for recognition of black Americans, in power, in his side.
The details of the period in America are very interesting. The way Ridley Scott tells the story with every action of Frank having a substitute reaction by Ritchie and vice-versa is amazing.(This is my favorite Ridley Scott work, parallel to Gladiator). The performances (obviously, and) especially by Crowe and Washington are strong and outstanding.