One of the year's best!

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2007)

I've been wanting to see American Gangster since the moment I saw the trailer, it's good to see a film that actually looks very intelligent and also has a terrific and talented cast. I saw the film today with my mom and we were both just blown away with American Gangster. It is without a doubt one of the year's best films and I guarantee you that this will be on the nomination buzz for the Oscars. First off, we have an original Mafia movie finally, something that hasn't really been touched, an African American who had power and was just put as high as an Italian Mofia boss. I didn't have an idea that someone like Frank Lucas could have the power he had, because of American Gangster, I now have a little more knowledge of history and the crimes in the 70's. Frank Lucas showed what one man with a little determination could rise quickly, but also have to suffer the severe consequences of his actions. Despite how the rise and fall story is used so often, the cast and crew made American Gangster into a real film.
Frank Lucas is an African American man growing in the world of the 70's in America. Drugs are becoming a hot commodity, or at least the good and pure kind of drugs that you can only get from Vietnam. When he hears about this, he heads over there and makes a deal with the drug lord, he manages to bring in 2,000 kilos into the United States! He's now a popular customer there and in America, he's living the high life. He moves his family into a gorgeous mansion, he gets a beautiful Puerto Rican wife, and is respected by most of the community. He's never even suspected of anything, that is until his wife gives him a coat that stands out quite a bit in a crowd, and he is photographed by Detective Richie Roberts. Roberts is now on Lucas's case and has problems of his own, over half of his team is being bribed by drug dealers, and he's under the same pressure to just give into temptation of a bribe.
American Gangster is the best Mofia movie this year, I promise you. It's a fantastic film and has just flawless performances. I wouldn't be surprised if Denzel Washington will be nominated for a best performance award. His performance as Frank was so brilliant, he was scary, yet smooth, unpredictable, yet charismatic. He couldn't have played it better. Russell is riding on the roller coaster of great performances this year, he's not as powerful as Denzel, but he stands great on his own in American Gangster. Ridley Scott, our director, has proved that he can handle the Mofia genre, he handled the film with utter perfection and this is his best film in years. American Gangster actually surpassed my expectations, I definitely do recommend this movie, it's a great one.
10/10