Opinion of a mob movie non-fan

Rating: 9/10 (15 October 2008)

I do not, generally, enjoy movies about organized crime. Even the combination of Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington, and Russel Crowe did not entice me enough to lure me into the cinema for American Gangster. Although I now lament this missed opportunity, I have to say that the Collector's Edition DVD set was well worth the wait and the expense. Almost uniquely, the bonus features offer penetrating authentication of this essentially true story about the rise and decline of 1960s/1970s crime boss Frank Lucas (Washington) in Harlem.
Opposite Lucas, and very interestingly mirrored by him throughout the film, is Essex County, New Jersey, policeman Richie Robertson (Crowe) a stalwartly honest cop who is waging a personal and professional war on drugs and corruption. The lives of the two protagonists are remarkably paralleled in the film, and the eventual culmination of the story will probably surprise those who are unfamiliar with the history of Lucas and Robertson. And the characterization (from top of the bill to the bottom) are excellent.
Essentially, this is a heroic tale, but it is also a great deal more which I can not tell you about without writing a spoiler.
The subject matter is decidedly not appropriate for young people. There are graphic scenes of heroin abuse and some rather cavalier treatments of human life which are affective and appropriate in contextualizing the subject of the film.
The film is well directed, perfectly paced and casted, nicely edited and phenomenally well acted. Crowe and Washington reach their usual high standards, and Josh Brolin, Ruby Dee, Ted Levine, John Hawkes and Armand Assante provide great support.
Unlike many films in this genre, action is very much subordinated to story and character development. In fact, action is actually given just a few quick minutes of screen time.
Recommended for fans of Scott and the cast. Very highly recommended for fans of true crime drama.