American Gangster - Not Very Good

American Gangster Rated R 2hrs 37 minutes

Overview: For me- boring, slow, predictable and contemptuous in parlaying hero status on scum.

The hype that surrounded the opening of the movie I think was caused somewhat by the void left by the ending of the television series the Sopranoes. (James Gandolfini aka Tony Soprano was offered the role of Detective Trupo, but turned it down.) I should point out my bias that I felt the Soprano's was brilliant.

You have a great team with director Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington and Russle Crowe. The weakest link, in my opinion was the script, followed by the unexeptional directing, followed by the ineffectual acting of Washington (whom I really do like as an actor.) The storyline itself, a retelling of an actual story, never really satisfies. The attempt at redemption at the conclusion, though real, was far less than satisfying, for me, almost nauseating.

At the end of the movie, I simply said: "I didn't like that."

And heaven forbid that it be compared to the Godfather or Scarface. In both movies the directing pull out an intensity that is nowhere to be found in this movie.

I rate this movie 4 out of ten.

Synopsis:

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He makes a mint cutting out the middleman by acquiring his goods straight from Vietnam and then peddling them in his Harlem hometown. It is also the story of a honest policeman, Richie Roberts. Based on a true story.

More:


The hero of the movie is also, really, the greatest villain, Frank Lucas, the real-life Harlem drug lord. He was `the' unlikely black man to best the white mafia in drug trafficking. The movie portrays Lucas as a black man who rises to the heights of society by his dedication to "order," and his strives to be a businessman and a "gentleman," who values hard work and loyalty, being smart and at the core disciplined and caring (he gives away free turkeys at Thanksgiving to the poor as his mentor did.)

On the down side - the characterization is second-hand: the bad cop on the take is bad through and through, the good cop so obsessed by the job that he neglects his family; the gangster seems a charmer but has ferocious streak. The same gangster follows the lead of the Corleones (of the Godfather movie)in family loyalty - setting up his mouth in a grand home and relying on his brothers as his first lieutenants.

What is not as predictable as the characters is how boring the end would be.

On the plus side it is a history lesson about heroin addiction in late 1960s and early 1970s in New York.

Read more about the director Ridley Scott -a look into the life of the director.

Full trailer



The soundtrack album gives you a diverse introspect on the film featuring artist such as Hank Shocklee, The Staple Singers, Public Enemy and Bobby Womack. The focus single (Do You Feel Me) on the album features platinum recording artist Anthony Hamilton. The song is also written by Diane Warren, one of the most successful and prolific songwriters to ever work in the music industry.

The movie poster: