Story of Frank Lucas

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2007)

Based on a true story, "American Gangster" tells us the story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) who becomes most important importer of heroin on Manhattan, after the death of his mentor Bumpy Johnson (Clarence Williams III). Lucas does that by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and that is his cousin Nate (Roger Guenveur Smith). His product is superior to the one that is currently available on the street and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position and he also has to bribe some cops, especially Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin). Parallel with the story of Frank Lucas we also follow the story of Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who seems to be only honest policeman.
Ridley Scott directed this movie and I have to say that everything is made very good but I have a feeling that original version had 4 hours (just took one number) and that he had to cut a lot of scenes. There Scott gets lost, cause on one side he managed to create character of Frank Lucas completely and that is great, but on the other side almost every other characters suffer (especially Richie Roberts). And everything is perfectly made for Washington, but Crowe hasn't got much space to show his acting ability (which are great). Also some situations aren't explained completely. Like why is Cuba Gooding's character so little in this movie, after fight with Lucas he disappears. But what bothered me the most is that Lucas family just came to this big, new house without asking any questions. How did he get all that money and it is simply impossible that in his family, in short period of time, they all became killers and drug sellers.
But if I put aside these things, we get one very well directed and acted movie (especially Washington) about a man who managed to became the king of drug scene and he wasn't Italian, but black. Also the character of Crowe is definitely only completely positive one (but only if we look his career in police). So "American Gangster" is solid movie from director Ridley Scott, but it isn't his best in my opinion. "Gladiator" is still my number one, but "American Gangster" isn't movie to avoid for every Scott fan.