Well, American Gangster is finally out on DVD. For those of you anxiously waiting for this release, the wait is over. This soon to be classic film now joins the ranks of great "gangster" films such as Scarface, Casino, and Goodfellas.
In American Gangster, Denzel Washington plays Harlem's mercilous drug kingpin Frank Lucas, with Russell Crowe Richie Roberts hot on his tail. The movie also includes appearances by some of hip-hop's elite such as Common, T.I., and RZA. Directed by Ridley Scott, this film takes you into the underbelly of NYC's drug world during the 70's. And Frank is as ruthless in the film as you'd expect any gangster to be. Just how ruthless? I would say lighting someone on fire and shooting a guy in broad daylight would definitely qualify. And Denzel owns the role as Frank as his portrayal is as accurate as can be. I can't imagine another actor playing this role. On the other side of the spotlight, we have another Oscar winner playing the guy who's trying to bust Frank. Richie Roberts is a cop who doesn't quite have his life together. His marriage is falling apart, and one of his closest partners on the job turns out to be a junkie. But the one quality that Richie has going for him is that he's an honest cop. And in this world of corrupt cops, one of which is portrayed by Josh Brolin, Richie's integrity remains intact. Speaking of corrupt cops, it's worth mentioning that Frank is not the only "bad guy" in the film. The very people who are supposed to be protecting the people are actually in cohorts with the drug dealers. It goes to show that things are not always as black and white as we think they are.
Overall, this is a film with a story that grips you from the beginning, and doesn't let go until the ending credits roll.
With the DVD version, you get treated the option of watching the rated or unrated version, along with the second disc that contains a bunch of special features, making the set a collectible for any movie lover.
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