WOW! I expected so much more

Rating: 5/10 (5 November 2007)

I was a 'Harlem Child' in the late 60s and early 70s and I eagerly anticipated being immersed in life as I saw it as a child when I sat down in the theater. Instead, I was doused in fantasy.
Denzel played a very convincing Frank Lucas until he put one in the noodle of his nemesis. (That never happened) I'm not saying that Lucas didn't take a few lives on those unforgiving Harlem streets, but not in broad daylight. That's B.S. He was a lot smoother than that. And he never inherited a 'drug empire'. Bumpy Johnson dabbled in drugs but he made his millions from policy. (Illegal numbers)
Russell Crowe did a good job as Richie Roberts but I feel that his story overwhelmed Lucas' character. I was there to understand what launched the 'American Gangster' to ghetto super stardom. I felt cheated and there were too many unanswered questions about him.
And then we have the mistakes. You'd think that with Ridley Scott directing Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, someone would've been hired to proof the final cut. There were numerous screw-ups in dialogue and in the shots but my pet peeve was Rza'a WuTang tattoo on the screen? HUH?
All in all, the movie was mildly entertaining but hopefully, the next time a movie of this type hits the screen, it'll be written by someone who not only knows the truth but writes it.