Kelsey's Review

Summary - Perfect 5.0

Frank Lucas (Washington) is living in Manhattan in the 1970’s trying to make a profit selling drugs. However, he doesn’t seem to be able to make any real profit off of it. By the time he pays off people, he doesn’t have anything else left for him. Frank thinks the solution to this is to eliminate the middle man, to get his heroin right from a direct source. People think this to be impossible, but Frank goes to the jungle and attempts it. He makes a deal for the drugs to be sent to him through the planes of soldiers from Vietnam back to America. Frank is able to get large amounts that are much more pure than the other brands on the street and he sells it for half the price. He calls it “Blue Magic”. The product quickly shows massive success. Frank becomes very wealthy. He moves his entire family from North Carolina to a massive house he owns in Manhattan. He meets Eva (Nadal) and soon makes her his wife.
On the other side of the law is Richie Roberts (Crowe). He is a police officer and one of the last good ones left. Many of the cops presently on the force really abuse their power. When they catch people with illegal drugs they will confiscate them and sell them back to others. They are greedy and are not beneath bribes, making it possible for more criminals to remain roaming the streets. It gets to the point where even his partner seems like he isn’t anything more than a criminal himself. While Richie has remained to be so focused on his job, his family life has fallen apart. He is separated from his wife and he doesn’t give his son the attention that he deserves. Soon his ex-wife gets fed up and tells him they are leaving him to move with her sister near Las Vegas. Richie tries fighting this, but it comes to the point where he has to question himself if he really is able to give his son the kind of environment that he should be brought up in. Meanwhile, Richie is promoted at work. He builds up a new team, those who he can truly trust. They soon suspect Frank Lucas. His sudden high status is drawn to them. At first they think he is just working for someone else. When they learn the truth they realize that he is more dangerous than the mafia itself. Not only is Richie after Frank, but there are others who resent him, even fellow drug dealers. His product begins to dominate over everyone else, impossible for anyone else to do any business. This becomes a massive threat to Frank and his family.

Acting - Great 4.0

I have always been a fan of Denzel Washington. He continuously gives a powerful performance and American Gangster is no exception to that. Frank is definitely a very flawed character. He is involved with a bad business in the first place. Frank really shows no mercy either. He is an extremely violent individual and can even be relentless towards his family. Frank is trying to make something of himself though and he was smart enough to figure out how to become a success. He is trying to support his family too. The only problem is that his selfishness and determination can cloud his judgment and almost makes him lose that family. Russell Crowe was very impressive as well. His character seemed pretty miserable most of the time and he was conscious of that. However, to him it was simple. He had to do what he was doing; it was just the right thing to do. He helped make change in a time when these ideals were almost looked down upon. Lymari Nadal gives a good performance in the beautiful and strong Eva. She has to have some strength to get through the dangers that she is put in by being Frank’s wife by Frank’s enemies and at times Frank himself.

Film - Perfect 5.0

American Gangster effectively tells us the true story of Frank Lucas. It shows us the corruption all around and how hard it was to beat. When the investigation was complete nearly two thirds of the police force had been fired for abusing their powers. The film also does a good job of showing the different sides of the law; of criminal and officer; of good and bad. We see Frank living like royalty selling drugs and mercilessly killing people. He is essentially rewarded for this behavior. Then we see Richie, having nothing but a sandwich as a Thanksgiving dinner, without any family, completely alone. He is in a much lower class and if he were like many other immoral officers he wouldn’t be. He even returned $1 million dollars of unclaimed money. If he would have kept that, he would be living the upper class life that Frank is. It just wasn’t the right thing to do though and this was enough for him. Even when given another chance like this, he declines it. The fight against this deceit and danger is more worthy to him. We are shown neither of them can run away from their mistakes though, it comes back to them in the end.

Edge - Horrid 4.4

In a movie about the crime world violence is naturally going to come with it. The film opens up on Frank burning a man alive and then continuously shooting him. This sets the tone for the rest of the film shows the violent acts of Frank and others who threaten his success and family. Russel Crowe’s seperate story line shows that these dangers are all around and it is up to him to try and prevent things from continuing in this way.

Reality - Natural 1.0

American Gangster has a real subject matter not just because it is based on a true strory but because it relates to the African American struggle to succeed in America. American Gangster follows the success of a black man through the life of a gangster. Even other characters in the movie are surprised that he is even a target once they find out that he is not Italian. The film is significant because they follow the rags to riches theme. It show the underdog becoming the big dog in town. He becomes very powerful and lives a glamorous lifestyle even though it is full of danger and risk. American Gangster is really about the Frank finding their own place in American Culture. A place where he isn’t
under anyone else, where he can have the control for once. The film makes sure anyone who threatens that control pays severely. Many immigrants have struggled making a name for themselves in America. However, the black race has had one of the hardest times through out American history, struggling to gain rights, and to establish themselves with credibility and respect. American Gangster shows one mans struggle for this by following him through the world of drug dealing.

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