Pajiba

I've gone from "can't wait" to "kind of excited" on this, but hell, I saw Virtuosity, I might as well see this too.

Yep, my thoughts exactly.
Not bad, but not that great either. How long has it been since we got a really good ganster movie?

Denzel always delievers, at least I feel like I get my moneys worth.Russell Crow not so much. Got to be some babes in this thing ,RIGHT?? hey buss trade that little bitch KOBE now!

Washington and Crowe in a movie together is reason enough for me to see this.

How long has it been since we got a really good ganster movie?

Have I found a fellow traveler who also found The Departed tiresome and loud? Body count and profanity are fun and all, but they can't substitute for character and nuance.

Denzel and Crowe are two of my favorites, especially Crowe, despite all appearances that he's a complete jagoff. On my list of guarantors of cinematic enjoyment, there's Chris Cooper, George Clooney, and then Crowe. So, I'll be giving this one a shot very soon.

I'll probably see it just for the Denzel freak outs, but yeah, I thought this would be flawed.

i think i've kinda given up on denzel...i know, i know WHY you ask? isn't he really just playing one of two characters all the time?
character one: undercover cop, detective, hero. character two: corrupted undercover cop or detective, general bad ass.

maybe i'm wrong (and i'm sure many of you think i am), but this role seems to fit into the character two column.

Even kind of bad gangster films are better than really good romantic comedies. Count me in.

How the hell was Black Hawk Down forgettable? knowing you think that makes the rest of the review pointless

In real life crime does pay and the bad guys might not always win but they sure as hell get to live better than you and me.

All that aside I will be watching Denzel and the Thighmaster do their thing 'cause this looks very cool.

I think Stringer Bell deserves better than to be taken out like a punk in the middle of 125th street in broad daylight.

I think Stringer Bell deserves better than to be taken out like a punk in the middle of 125th street in broad daylight.

That's his penance for The Reaping.

despite its shortcomings (and there really aren't that many, and the flaws it does have are directorial), i found this movie entertaining and well worth seeing, and not only for Crowe's and Washington's performances (which were riveting at times), but the ensemble is good as well and the cameos are nice and understated, not obvious (see Deadwood's John Hawkes and the RZA).

I understand socalledonlycousins, but a brother gotta eat.

In real life crime does pay and the bad guys might not always win but they sure as hell get to live better than you and me

I read that while the big drug bosses did make very nice profits, they were on the top of a huge pyramid, with the rank and file at the bottom earning LESS than the minimum wage and with a 1 in 4 chance of death in four years. i.e. with a bigger chance of dying than a criminal on death row!

I would be more interested if Crowe wasn't involved. Easily the most overrated actor of the past ten years. Think I'll just watch "The Wire" instead.

How the hell was Black Hawk Down forgettable? knowing you think that makes the rest of the review pointless

i agree that blackhawk down is far from forgettable, in fact, other than saving private ryan and about a half hour of thin red line, it is one of the best war movies in the past 10+ years...

however, i think his review is dead on, this movie did have a lot more potential but it just fizzled in certain areas.

This sounds like a bit of a rip-off, a combination of The Sopranos, The Wire and a bit of Tom Clancy thrown in for good measure.

In Season six of The Sopranos, the guys bemoan that the local mom & pop stores are being taken over by conglomerates (very obvious swipe at Starbucks, the second for the series), which leaves them unable to collect protection money. Also, Tony sells out a local place to some kind of coffee/juice bar.

The Wire rip-offs are obvious with the drug story, and with the parallelling (is that a word?) of the lives of the gangsters with the lives of the cops.

Finally, if you're hinting at what I think you're hinting at, with his method of smuggling drugs from Vietnam, Tom Clancy did that in Without Remorse. Which as far as I know hasn't hit any screen, large or small, but it's a pretty good book.

Notwithstanding all those blatant rip-offs, I'll probably see it. Not because of Russell Crowe, because as a Sydneysider I know how big a prat he is, but because of Denzel Washington, who is both a great actor and extremely delicious to look at.

Um, yeah black hawn down was seriously incredible, I'd say. And Russel Crowe is a superior actor. Denzel might be more famous.. and is a wonderful human being I am certain, but c'mon, Russel Crow.

I saw the movie last night and I wasn't really impressed. It was certainly over-long as your review suggested but I thought that it was unbearably slow paced at times. It seems like Scott wants so badly to be Martin Scorcese that he just took a script that looked like Goodfellas crossed with the Departed (but without any really great lines like those two movies have) and then grabbed up as much acting talent as he could find, blended on high for several hours and put out the result without any editing whatsoever. I thought Crowe was atrocious and I hated his accent. Furthermore, I disagree with the idea that Frank Lucas was the villain of the story. I think you hinted at this in your interview but I got the impression that the only people we were supposed to find villainous were the dirty cops.

**Spoiler alert maybe??"**
One last thing: Last night in the theater, after the body count on screen had probably already reached double digits, in the scene where the douchebag new york cops shoot Frank's dog, some dumb bitch in the audience shouted "What an asshole!" This is why I hate those fucking goofy PETA nutjobs. They care more about animals than human beings.

Gah,Denzel represents everything that's overrated with American culture-where's the appeal?His choice of characters have little variation & he's nothing to shout about.Lame.

I just got back from seeing this movie, and although I agree that it was too long, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't just Washington and Crowe's explosive and powerful performances, but the ensemble cast was fine, and I enjoyed the detail to the movie's time span (the late '60s and early '70s). I watched this movie right after I watched "New Jack City" on DVD, which, in my opinion, was one of the smartest films about the drug trade. There were many similarities between these films, especially how they showed the impact of drugs on their victims. In "New Jack City," the drug addicts were really bad-looking (whereas in most films, drug addicts look healthy and are still glamorous), and in "American Gangster," the scenes of Frank's prosperity through the selling of drugs were interspersed with the victims of drug abuse, particulary people who died from heroin overdoses, and these scenes were pretty ugly. Yes, Frank was cool and smooth, but he was also a cold-blooded killer who profited from people's misery. He was a villain, but so were the crooked cops, and a corrupt system. Like Nino Brown said in "New Jack City," -- "This [drug-dealing] is the American Way." Very few people at the top in this country made it without screwing over "the little people." Most of us are not honest enough to admit that fact, but this film is, I for that I give it a lot of credit.

I just got back from seeing this movie, and although I agree that it was too long, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't just Washington and Crowe's explosive and powerful performances, but the ensemble cast was fine, and I enjoyed the detail to the movie's time span (the late '60s and early '70s). I watched this movie right after I watched "New Jack City" on DVD, which, in my opinion, was one of the smartest films about the drug trade. There were many similarities between these films, especially how they showed the impact of drugs on their victims. In "New Jack City," the drug addicts were really bad-looking (whereas in most films, drug addicts look healthy and are still glamorous), and in "American Gangster," the scenes of Frank's prosperity through the selling of drugs were interspersed with the victims of drug abuse, particulary people who died from heroin overdoses, and these scenes were pretty ugly. Yes, Frank was cool and smooth, but he was also a cold-blooded killer who profited from people's misery. He was a villain, but so were the crooked cops, and a corrupt system. Like Nino Brown said in "New Jack City," -- "This [drug-dealing] is the American Way." Very few people at the top in this country made it without screwing over "the little people." Most of us are not honest enough to admit that fact, but this film is, and for that reason, I give it a lot of credit.

Good review, but add me to the Black Hawk Down camp. I remember it being very well received when it came out. That scene where the helicopters are cruising along the beach was exquisite film making. Eric Bana and William Fichtner were very memorable. And that was one fucking awesome firefight. (It also sounds fantastic on my home cinema system).

I never hear Jack Nicholson get criticized for playing similar roles over and over. Why Denzel? He may not be on Jack's level but he is good at what he does. Does anyone want to see him in a romantic comedy or something? I'd rather see him play Frank Lucas in five straight movies than some stupid Hugh Grant character in one movie just for the sake of him choosing different roles.

I found the movie entertaining. It got a little long in the middle but it picked up at the end and I thought the payoff was worth it. Any complaint I could muster up would be minor. I love the crime/mob genre so I might rate it a bit higher than a nonfan. But I thougth it was very good.

Gah,Denzel represents everything that's overrated with American culture-where's the appeal?His choice of characters have little variation & he's nothing to shout about.Lame.

Yeah, not the sexualizing of children, not the horrible role models that inexplicably still hold sway, not the dualist "with us or against us" bent of most media, not the elevation of mediocrity and punishment of any real creative thought. Yeah, Denzel Washington (and actors who are comfortable in certain roles in general, like say Tom Hanks and the later mentioned Nicholson) is what is wrong with American culture.

That was sarcasm, by the way.

Gah,Denzel represents everything that's overrated with American culture-where's the appeal?

The appeal is the guy is a multiple Oscar winner and one of our greatest actors. Sadly these days the American culture rewards stupidy i.e. Spears, Hilton and the late great Anna Nicole. But I really don't blame you for your comment about Zel, you obviously don't know any better.

Anyone see Denzel doing Shakespeare in "Much Ado About Nothing?", where he and Kenneth Branaugh pretty much tore the movie screen with their combined talents?
(forget Keanu Reeves was in it)

My point is the guy has range, but maybe he just prefers making certain kinds of movies. Most big actors in Hollywood do the same.

Yup, skipping this one (at least at the cinema). Will probably Netflix it but the queue is already way too long. In the mean time I'll join the others who will watch The Wire. Lesser knowns who actually can (and still do) act in intelligently written scripts. Those appear to be missing, or at least, in lesser quantity and quality in "American Gangster". It should have been better.

I enjoyed the film. It had good acting all around and showed a lot of the local landmarks in Harlem. It's always pretty cool seeing places you've been to on the big screen.

As a huge fan of The Wire I could tell the obvious influences in showing the different shades of the local area. But in it's defense there's no way any movie can match the complexity of The Wire. That's pretty much impossible.

If we are talking about overrated movies, then put "The Departed" on my list. I was disappointed in it, especially Jack's hysterically frenetic acting. I feel like after a few Oscar wins, he really just phones it in now for the paycheck. The whole movie felt very small screen, like it aspired to be worthy of a theatrical showing but really should have been an HBO miniseries.

Now, I enjoyed "American Gangster". Sure, it wasn't a perfect movie, but it was clean storytelling with fine acting. I found it more palatable than "The Departed" and free of all the gimmicky film making that Scorsese relies on like flashy editing and a braying soundtrack of "relevant" pop/rock songs.

Both Washington and Crowe fill these "big" roles well and do so comfortably as actors which makes them all the more enjoyable to watch. I also happen to think Crowe is wonderful in nearly everything. Maybe I'm a wee biased.

As for the length, like my mom said, now that we're paying upwards of $10 for a ticket, I almost expect a little more for my money. I'd feel ripped off for anything less that 2 hours. Ridley Scott kept the story moving in a way that didn't feel rushed nor did any portion really dragged along. Most of the scenes were necessary to tell the story of both cop and criminal.

Glad I saw it. Shoot, glad I saw any decent movie this weekend. It's been far too long since I stepped foot in a movie theater and I was beginning to get the DT's.

This sounds like a bit of a rip-off, a combination of The Sopranos, The Wire and a bit of Tom Clancy thrown in for good measure.

*****
The Wire rip-offs are obvious with the drug story, and with the parallelling (is that a word?) of the lives of the gangsters with the lives of the cops.

Finally, if you're hinting at what I think you're hinting at, with his method of smuggling drugs from Vietnam, Tom Clancy did that in Without Remorse. Which as far as I know hasn't hit any screen, large or small, but it's a pretty good book.

Posted by: Alison at November 3, 2007 6:13 PM

Umm, I think some of you guys are missing the rather salient fact that "American Gangster" is based on real people and events. If Tom Clancy "did that" he ripped it off from Frank Lucas.

"Gangster" may be a little late to the party, but it's not a rip-off of anything.

By the by, saw it last night and was very impressed with Crowe's decision to keep it so low key. One thing you can say about the guy-his ego never get's in the way of his craft.

As a trekker I admire that Crowe has made the best Star Trek movie of all time, Master and Commander.

I think it's a bit unfair to stamp on Denzel for playing the same role. That's more down to the lack of decent scriptwriting at the moment; most roles for the 40+ male are basically interchangable. I think he's got a good handle on things, doing the occasional John Q for the bucks until Training Day comes along. The guy has his own style, sure, but doesn't everyone? All I can say is that I invariably look forward to his next film, which is as good a criteria for excellence as any.

As for Russell, I can't get enough of the guy. He may be an arsehole, but discussions on character based on press reports are unlikely to be accurate. In the interviews I've seen him do, he seems thoroughly charming and amusing. Funnily enough, the only unbearable film I've seen either him or Denzel in was the one they appeared in together (Virtuosity). Keep in mind I've haven't seen The Preacher's Wife.

Unfortunately for Denzel Washington he plays his "stock characters" so well that he's pretty much the best choice for any character written that way - the same thing's happened to Morgan Freeman but, as yet, I've yet to see anyone denounce him as the possible downfall of American civilisation.

Of course now that I've mentioned that the probability of it happening rapidly approaches 1. Hey ho.

I wasn't fond of Black Hawk Down either, it just didn't do it for me I'm afraid.

does anybody else think T.I. just needs stop trying to act? every scene with him in it was absolute torture to watch.

Can't wait to see Denzel play a truly, truly bad guy. Plus, he's gorgeous.

at the same time however, i thought the RZA was great. "It's ME! Boogaloo, baby!"

Glad to see I'm not the only one who's read Freakanomics. :)

as for Denzel playing "stock characters", um, Meg Ryan anyone? Sean Bean? Hell, Harrison Fucking Ford?

Much as I'd love to see Denzel as a romantic lead (My tween heart pitter pattered watching Much Ado, with all the men galloping home in slow-mo, with those crisp white jackets unbuttoned at the collar.... yummy!), he's a two time Oscar winner. I think he's typecast in "heavy" roles befitting his status.

Re:sunny - i just watched the History Channel "Gangland" episode on Frank Lucas and I was like "OMG" they stole the plot to every gangster show i've ever seen from this guys real life.

I mean he was the wire/new jack/soporanos all by himself. also not at all remorseful (he's still alive after serving a stretch)

sidenote - those history channel gangland eps are really really graphic. they do a good job of illustrating the appeal of the gangsta lifestyle, but they also don't minimize the amount of violence and dead bodies required to achieve that level of "success"

HA! I wondered who would be the first to drop a Virtuosity reference, and there it is the the 1st comment! Nice!

"Hey there, Parker! This one's for you"

Good review, great title!!

I thought the movie was well made and a pretty good yarn, but not anything more (not that it necessarily has to be, mind you.) I don't think it's reach exceeded it's grasp, in that I didn't feel it was ever really reaching that high.

Good movie, but leaves me somewhat ambivalent too. ;-)

since when a movie needs to tell me what it's right and what's wrong? I'm not 5, the ambivalency of the movie it's his greatest part and the story it's ambivalent itself so suck it, that's life. the all ex-wife part was a necessary builting up to her speech, it was needed and otherwise it would have been too forced. and you know what? how the end is that different from the look we have of ray liotta in the goodfellas, that's where scott condamn Lucas, by putting him in his own streets but taking away from him any power. He's the long feared middle man now.

This was excellent. Although Aunt Flo wanted to do me in while sitting there, I managed to keep my legs together for 2 hours and 40 minutes. It was that good.

The role was played perfectly, but if you read some articles found on the narconon website you find out the good actors have problems getting out of their role.