"American Gangster" is spectacular.

Rating: 9/10 (12 November 2007)

Ridley Scott has directed a masterful film. His talents have once again sparkled the silver screen with heightened emotion mixed with violence. The scenes of interplay are subdued sufficiently to appease the general audiences. The historical aspects of the movie is profoundly interesting and only somewhat surprising in view of the era from which the story is drawn. Denzel Washington plays Frank Lucas, a powerhouse of an individual who seemingly single handedly takes over a major crime syndicate in New York. Russell Crowe plays Richie Roberts, the adversarial New York, Jewish cop who sticks with his convictions despite multiple trials and tribulations on duty. He too delivers a convincing performance that is far underplayed as he can so easily do. Ruby Dee plays Mama Lucas, the little momma who can keep Frank eating out of her hand. This film is well worth the price of admission, and it provides an education of the era that will stay with you long after it is over. I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen.