American Gangster

By Stuart Brown

A very brutal opening quickly catches viewers attention were a man is burnt alive and shot multiple times. This quickly sets the scene of the type of gritty, hard hitting violent film we’re about to see. 

Set in 1970’s America, following the death of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington)’s employer and mentor, Lucas takes his place and starts collecting heroin directly from his source in the east, cutting out the middle man and producing a cheaper, and purer product on the street. But we see as the more money and power he gets the more ruthless he becomes, shooting people at point blank in broad daylight in the middle of a busy street, clearly to establish his name as a feared and respected one in the drug world. But as time passes Lucas’ power seems to be getting more and more to his head becoming ever more stressed, violent and intimidating even to his family members.

The story also follows honest and loyal cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), and his struggle perpetuate drug dealers in a corrupt police force. Due to his honest reputation, Richie is given the opportunity to set up his own narcotics task force, taking a collection of honest cops to attempt to clean the streets. Noticing this new Lucas character emerge in this underworld, Roberts turns his investigation towards Lucas, who has crooked detective Trupo (Josh Brolin) pestering him for a higher bribes and attempting to intimidating him with the power of his badge.

With outstanding performances from the steller cast, Ridley Scott’s tense true story uses memorable characters with strong motives and morals to create an atmospheric, piece and is very realistic and effective. Though I personally find this film fairly slow, there’s no denying the talent within the film makers and actors within. The film seems to pick up pace when our lead characters seem to start interacting with each other’s lives, creating excitement, uncertainty, tension and confrontation as it starts to become, although a true story, completely unpredictable.

Once Roberts leads a team to intercept Lucas’ next import, the film reaches its peak, with the sequence in my opinion being the highlight of the film.  The first time the two lead characters meet is done beautifully, with the editing being the most effective element, cutting between the police’s raid of Lucas’ properties and Roberts slow walk, without dialogue, and both characters seem to immediately understand each other. This process is repeated when Roberts interrogates Lucas as the film cuts between the court room, the interrogation, Lucas giving up crooked cops, and the current news. 

American gangster is a  very well constructed film, with the acting, direction, script and editing standing out as the films strong points. As ever though, it is made even more powerful because it was a true story, and the text that fades in and out of the film’s final moments emphasise the scale and effect Roberts investigation and prosecution of Frank Lucas had on the agency and the Justice system.  

Frank Lucas was sentenced to 70 years. Authorities confiscated 250 million dollars of Lucas’ assets in US and Foreign banks. Roberts and Lucas’ collaboration led to the convictions of three quarters of New York Cities Drug Enforcement Agency. Thirty members of Frank Lucas’ family were convicted of drug trafficking and sent to prison. Richie Roberts quit the prosecutor’s office to become a defence attorney. His first client was Frank Lucas. Due to Lucas’ cooperation, his 70 year sentence was reduced to 15 years. He was released in 1991.