A movie of a score 85 to me

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2008)

This movie does not let me down at all. It's exciting, gripping and inspiring with positive messages about gangsters, corruption, marriage, etc, like many other gangster movies.
Denzel Washington's role is more convincing as he should be as the calm, low-profile and strong-willed man. Russell Crowe's role is even a bit more realistic, as a man full of weaknesses and flaws. But personally I find his appeal (as in Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind) seriously fading, partly because of his hairstyle and partly the limited role he's playing this time.
The movie itself is convincing as it's based on a true movie. The plot is well developed and there are very few gaps to fill in. Something that displeases me is the excessive romances of the two characters, although I admit that they help to make up a complete plot.
The thing I like about the movie is that it does not involve too much blood and gun shooting. It is the ideas and characters which strike the audience and let them think, not the weapons or the blood.
Having said that, without the personal charm of Denzel and Russel, I seriously doubt if the movie would be as successful as it is. I mean, critically speaking, the movie's success still lies much in the good characters rather than the plot.
I am from Hong Kong and I find the movie's style very much like many local gangster movies, like Inferno Affairs and products of Johnny To, especially the ending scence withe background music of Amazing Grace.
Overall, I see no reason why this is not an excellent movie, and why Denzel should not be nominated, or at least dubbed, as the Best Actor of the year.