Not all that (at least not all that to be in the top 250)

Rating: 5/10 (6 November 2007)

First off, I don't have any idea how this movie landed up in IMDb's top 250 list. The movie could've been much better than it was. It can be understood that Scott was dealing with an era movie, of which he has done many. But the drug infested New York City of the late 60's is definitely not his playground. He relies too much on Denzel's acting skills, which alone are the only thing worth seeing in the movie (Russell can be a much better actor, and here, he sure fails to pull off a decent American accent). The movie tries too hard to fit into many different thematic genres but fails to deliver in any. It tries to be a cat & mouse chase between the cop Russell and the drug lord Denzel, but Russell never brings on the game and two leads end up confronting each other only in the end at which point the story seems to belong somewhere else. The Movie tries to be a full blown gangster movie, but the story never takes off and fails to impress. don't expect the raw energy seen in Scarface, or the wholesome gangster experience in Godfather. The 2 hrs 40 mins could have been put to better use. Instead the viewer is left sitting there expecting a plot twist any moment, but it never happens. The story is unevenly paced, with the first 2 hrs 20 mins. dedicated to showing Denzel's rise to power and a few obstacles here and there. All of a sudden as if due to a shortage of reel, in the next 20 mins you see the police craking down denzels whole operation, sentencing him, getting a little help from him (to catch others involved), and releasing him after 14-15 odd years.. . Ridley Scott has done better movies and there have been much better Gangster movies than "American Gangster"... Wait for the DVD if u must.