More Epic Than Excellent

Rating: 7/10 (5 February 2020)

Maybe it's unfair to compare a slow burn crime web untangling to an adrenaline rush between opposing forces-but it stuns me that American Gangster is rated higher on IMDB than Training Day.
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are excellent, as is the star-studded supporting cast. But American Gangster is a good 40 minutes overlong.
The Thanksgiving contrast between Richie's tuna potato chip sandwich and Frank's crystal and bronzed turkey family feast was a perfect little gem. Unlike all the repetitive scenes of Richie's custody squabbles, Frank's many breakfasts and people shooting up heroin again and again.
Luckily, the last half hour or so was reinvigorating, as Richie's task force finally came to fruition and he and Frank finally met. The gleefulness of Frank's ultimate interaction with Richie's team was quite a payoff.