American Gangster (R)

Running Time : 2 hours, 45 minutes
Directed by
Starring

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Synopsis:

Starring: Denzel Washington
Russell Crowe
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Talk to Me, Children of Men, Kinky Boots)
Josh Brolin (Grindhouse, Melinda and Melinda)
Featuring the musicians RZA, Common, and T.I.

Directed by: Ridley Scott (3 time Oscar nominee for Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Thelma and Louise)
Screenplay by Academy Award winner Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List).



Nobody used to notice Frank Lucas, the quiet driver to one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses. But when his boss suddenly dies, Frank exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade, flooding the streets with a purer product at a better price. Lucas outplays all of the leading crime syndicates and becomes not only one of the city's mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars.

Richie Roberts is an outcast cop close enough to the streets to feel a shift of control in the drug underworld. Roberts believes someone is climbing the rungs above the known Mafia families and starts to suspect that a black power player has come from nowhere to dominate the scene. Both Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that sets them apart from their own colleagues, making them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. The destinies of these two men will become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on top.


Critics’ Takes on American Gangster

“There is not one dull or inauthentic moment in this film.” –Richard Roeper, Ebert and Roeper

“This is an engrossing story, told smoothly and well, and Russell Crowe's contribution is enormous.” Roger Ebert, Ebert and Roeper

“Denzel Washington dazzles in his best screen performance to date as Frank Lucas.” –Lou Lumenick, New York Post

“It takes nerve to call a film American Gangster -- But once you see this finely made and richly satisfying film, you understand it's the only title possible.” –Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

“The movie, based on a true story, takes surprising twists and turns right up to its chilling ending and is probably the best gangster crime drama of the year.” –Claudia Puig, USA Today