In depth crime drama that stays well bottled up in it's own period of violence, power, and corruption.

Rating: 6/10 (3 November 2007)

"American Gangster" is clearly a film that stands as one of those classic time pieces of power and shows it's culture very strong. Directed by Ridley Scott who shows so much power and greed in this drama as it showcases the rise of power of real-life 1970's Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas(Denzel Washington) and the struggles of a conflicted cop Richie Roberts(Russell Crowe). The contrast is typical good guy against bad yet the viewer sees both as conflicted as Roberts a divorced cop with his own problems of women and commitment while Lucas is seen enjoying success as a family man from illegal means as he makes his fortune thru smuggling heroin from Southeast Asia. Really a good cop like film that captured the time and culture of the 70's well by showing the rise of the street drug culture really the film brings back memories of "The French Connection". As typical with gangster films this is filled with greed, blood, and most of all corruption. The performances are strong from both titans Crowe and Washington as this was really a good culture film that stays bottled up so well in it's 70's time frame yet it ends in my opinion showing corruption showcased as a champion like theme which has became so common in our money hungry culture.