A worthy addition to the gangster film canon

Rating: 8/10 (22 May 2008)

"American Gangster" is the story of 70's heroin kingpin Frank Lucas. It shares many elements with gangster movies past, while still bringing something new to the table.
The acting here is of high caliber, with Denzel Washington (as Frank Lucas) delivering a top-notch performance as always. Likewise, Russell Crowe does not disappoint in his role as detective Richie Roberts. The supporting cast is also solid, with memorable turns by the likes of Armand Assante, Ruby Dee & Josh Brolin.
Ridley Scott is a talented director but I find that his films are hit and miss. Luckily, this is one of the hits. This is a film that would not look out of place alongside the celebrated gangster films of Coppola and Scorsese.
Indeed, this film bears a recognizable resemblance to "The Godfather" films and "GoodFellas", in much the same way that "Gladiator" was a riff on "Ben-Hur" and "Spartacus". Thus, if you appreciate those films, you stand a very good chance of appreciating this one as well.