| Ridley Scott's stylish visual recreation
| |
| | the Mafia, and deliberate measures taken
|
| of the late 1960's early 1970's Harlem
| |
| | to preserve a low profile, Lucas's rise
|
| almost threatens to overshadow the story
| |
| | to success is swift and profitable,
|
| of American Gangster. Based on true
| |
| | netting over a million dollars a day at
|
| events, the unbelievable story parallels
| |
| | the peak of his career.
|
| the rise to success of Harlem Heroin
| |
| | Detective Ritchie Richards shares Lucas's
|
| Kingpin, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington),
| |
| | paradoxical ethics. With little regard
|
| and the man who eventually brings him
| |
| | for any responsibility where his wife and
|
| down, New York Detective, Ritchie Roberts
| |
| | child are concerned, Richards is as
|
| (Russell Crowe). Both actors in stunning
| |
| | steadfast as the Harlem gangster in his
|
| performances slide into their characters
| |
| | idealistic views of what is right and
|
| skin with convincing ease. The Vietnam
| |
| | wrong. Ridiculed and shunned by his
|
| War and widespread NY police corruption
| |
| | corrupt peers after discovering, and
|
| are so important to the story that, by
| |
| | turning in a million dollars found in the
|
| circumstance, are like living breathing
| |
| | trunk of a car while working a case,
|
| characters in the film.
| |
| | Richards's remains steadfast in his
|
| The violent Frank Lucas carries out his
| |
| | convictions. The pursuit and eventual
|
| business of violence with calculated
| |
| | take down of the heroin kingpin is
|
| chilling calm. He is as ruthless with his
| |
| | brilliant, calculated and violent.
|
| enemies, as he is loving with his family.
| |
| | Richards carries out the business of
|
| He sees no paradox within himself; he is
| |
| | bringing the kingpin to his knees much
|
| confident and views himself to be as
| |
| | like Frank Lucas himself would.
|
| ethical as they come. His rise to success
| |
| | In my favorite scene from the film, both
|
| begins after the death of his mentor, and
| |
| | characters sit for a conversation, where
|
| a brilliant business plan. Armed with the
| |
| | a deal is made. Lucas turns informant
|
| knowledge of the rising drug use among
| |
| | when Richards points out that he no
|
| American soldiers fighting in the war,
| |
| | longer has the support of the Mafia. The
|
| Lucas travels to Vietnam. Setting up his
| |
| | Mafia is no better prepared than society
|
| own drug connection, therefore, allowing
| |
| | is to accept the progression that would
|
| him to cut out the middleman. Taking his
| |
| | follow should Lucas be allowed to remain
|
| exploitation of the war one step further,
| |
| | in a position of power and wealth. Denzel
|
| he manages to have large quantities of
| |
| | Washington's performance here is
|
| pure grade heroin transported into the
| |
| | brilliant. A brief visible faltering of
|
| country by means of caskets carrying the
| |
| | his characters confidence as he
|
| bodies of dead soldiers - aboard American
| |
| | recognizes this powerful truth.
|
| service planes. Under the protection of
| |
| |
|
