"My Man!"

Rating: 7/10 (13 March 2008)

American Gangster is based on Frank Lucas, a real Harlem drug lord;the film starts off with a brutal killing of a man who is burnt and shot to death. Then Frank's boss Bumpy and father figure dies from a heart attack and chaos ensues as all rival gangsters want in on Bumpy's old territory. Frank however has a strong dislike for flashy gangsters and decides to take over and then realises something. Instead of buying drugs from a intermediary, he goes straight to the manufacturer and begins a partnership by importing heroin in dead US soldiers coffins.
Richie Roberts is a upcoming Jersey cop who decides to find the man responsible for selling 'Blue Magic' and finds out that more then half of the city's cops are on the take, and so he sets out to bring down Frank Lucas.
The film is very stylish and gives the Frank character depth, he isn't like Tony Montana who wants to get power quick and live the life of a millionaire, but preserve his power and reign. Denzel is pitch perfect as always giving the character a sense of belonging while Russell Crowe plays Richie with great comic timing. The best scene is when Frank and Richie meet, the scene sends goosebumps down ones back when they sit and talk. An iconic moment in cinema.
But the most touching and sad scene of all is when Frank is released from prison and see the world that is 1990's, a completely different world from the one he left. The way Denzel holds the cappuccino cup is almost endearing but mostly it is the friendship that is created between cop and robber that sticks in the audiences mind.
This film is done with pure brilliance and is a perfect true gangster epic, even though the story has been done before...Blow, Scarface.
Still a great film.