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Photo © Universal Pictures Distribution
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American Gangster
Crime. Based on real life events
2hrs. 36 mins.
November 2nd, 2007
MPAA: R
Universal Pictures Distribution
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Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe,Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Directed By: Ridley Scott
Produced By: Brian Grazer and Ridley Scott
Screenplay By: Steven Zaillian
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Reviewed
By: Wellington Lee
Rated 2.97/5
In a Nutshell:Set in the Late 1960's/early 70's.A long, true saga, of a Harlem driver turned entrepreneurial Harlem drug Lord; with a parallel story about the honest,but womanizing, New Jersey cop who eventually brought him, and most of N.Y.City's corrupt and elite Police 'Special Investigations Unit',down. The pair form a bond, that continues after all the indictments. Too long and wide in scope. Difficult to follow all the characters.Washington,Crowe's and supporting performances, and the era songs and styling, make it worth a look.Crowe's Det.Richie,and Harlem Frank's direct, secretive S.E.Asian heroin imports,harken back to the classic:"The French Connection"
Feature Review:What is most shocking about this story, is that no film makers or studios saw an obvious film,in all the real life assorted characters,action, violence,drama and corruption; that was sensational news in the 1970's. Mario Puzzo's fictionalized Godfather(Coppola), Dir. Scorcese's Good Fellas('90),Dir M.Newell's Donnie Brasco('97); and HBO's popular "The Sopranos",all follow the players, the power organizations,the families and struggles of white, mostly Italian Americans.Do creative/film exec. types underestimate, or harbor the same subconscious doubt(rather than prejudice)as the public,that black crime figures could actually organize an international ring, around family and hierarchy?
Astute New York Magazine reporter Mark Jacobson, wrote a long piece in 2000, about two such notorious Harlem based gang leaders.The story is selectively adapted from that."...Gangster" shoots for an epic, falls short in places,but treats memorable performances based on real life arrogant, or cunning and ruthless, characters. What emerges is an odd sort of 'buddy struggle', between a self educated, entrepreneurial Harlem drug King and an honest cop.Det.Richie ends up taking down his N.Y.C. colleague'dirty'detectives,with the 'King's'help.
Frank Lucas(Washington) was a barely observable driver/bodyguard, for better known Harlem crime boss Bumpy Johnson.At least three movie characters("The Cotton Club's Lawrence Fishbourne)were modeled after him, and rudimentary educated Frank,applies
the lessons from his 15 year apprenticeship.Realizing that if he could deal directly with the source grower/processor in the then 'Golden Triangle'(Thailand, Vietnam,Burma), he wouldn't have to get heavily cut product from the Italians.Organizing with his five brothers and cousins only, Frank made his own 'Asian source' connection, getting his Vietnam serving cousin,to enlist logistics officers,and ship twelve kilos or more back in each coffin,of our dead G.I.'s.The real life Frank, still laughs about the ingeniousness of it('who would dare to look there!');alternating with alleged,post-remorse. The resulting near pure product,is cut by naked(so they won't steal any) Harlem women "table workers",wearing only masks.
Denzel reprises his riveting "Training Day" bad guy role, and fits into it like a calfskin glove. Frank lectures his brothers/cousins on maintaining a low profile, eschewing the "Super Fly", African American flashy, pimp roll cloths of that era.Denzel portrays writer Zaillian's conception of his businessman like demeanor,with a superb,
icy coolness.Unlike real life charismatic Frank,Denzel is directed to only be affectionate with his Mom. Not with stunning wife Eva. What seems to be lacking in screen time,is a character closer to an instinctive animal, that is ready to coil and strike.
Real life Frank admits to a dozen killings,and we don't see the first public one, until after the Asian trip.In a very brief scene,Frank sets up a small, slow payback dealer, for a personal sidewalk confrontation/execution.Real Frank now reminisces, that he set this street bully up, to establish his lethal rep, and garner street respect. A direct, but real life parallel, to Mario Puzzo's Godfather:remember poor immigrant Vito Corleone's first public hit, of N.Y.C.'s Italian tenement's extorter, 'Fanucci'?
Back in Dir. Scott's "lifestyle of Frank" mode,the 'boss' hangs with fighters(Joe Louis),marries Miss Puerto Rico("Eva":L.Nadal),and lives in a lavish inner city triplex.
The life of New Jersey Det.Richie Roberts(Crowe), is anything but lavish and powerful.He lives in a dumpy apartment, delivers summons to make a few bucks to help with night law school, and has a junkie for a partner. With a tetchy rep.,Crowe easily molds into this dishelved, honest,undomesticated and sexually acting out, cop character. Frank is known and ridiculed, even by his eventual hand picked, secret drug task force squad, for turning in an untraceable Million, from a big bust.He resignedly and respectfully deals with S.I.U.'s corrupt standard bearer, Det. Trupo(a large mustached, menacing Brolin).In a realistic scene, he apologetically gets his 20 G's bust stake money back, while on their Harlem turf, after they shake it down. Crowe's onscreen,coiled power,is always just below the surface of his restrained demeanor.
The parallel story about one determined,honest cop(Det.Richie:Crowe),makes us gravitate to the odd "Buddy" pairing. Richie and Frank share one thing in common: a disdain for the corrupt and powerful.Frank even cuts his final product smack(street name:"Blue Magic"), stronger than the Italian Mob's transited product. He shows his dislike for them, in a key aside to wife Eva.They both hate 'dirty'elite cops(NY's S.I.U. unit).The best dialogue, comes in a final encounter between the two,where Richie spells this out.
Det. Richie to Frank:"They(corrupt,extorting cops)aren't my kind. Just like Italians(poor 'quality';high priced suppliers)aren't yours."
The two eventual strike an unusual(for the time) alliance, wreaking a 'bleaching' havoc,in this nefarious world.Stay or keep rolling the DVD,for the ending subtitles(only another minute),that let us know what became of our characters.
If you can't make it to the Big Screen,the DVD will enable you to run back confusing scenes and clarify the characters.
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