Movies: American Gangster

"American Gangster" is a schizophrenic movie, featuring two of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood - Oscar winners Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. One half of the film is about the rise and fall of heroin kingpin Frank Lucas, who achieved incredible wealth and power by importing drugs direct from southeast Asia. The other half is a story about a womanizing police detective named Richie Roberts, who is honest in his policework but has enough personal demons to make up for it.

The movie is based on the real-life events surrounding Lucas, although it's been heavily fictionalized according to all parties involved. One part "Godfather," one part "Serpico," the constant intercutting between Lucas and Roberts' stories serves as more of a distraction than anything else - like most Ridley Scott movies, this one's in need of some competent editing to trim away the fat from its 157 minute runtime.

On the positive side, Scott perfectly captures the feel of '70s New York, with some pitch-perfect costume and set work. Both Denzel and Russell don't have to work too hard in this one (Washington in particular is playing the same character he's played for the last ten years), but they do bring some decent character moments in-between all the dope-slinging and cops-and-criminals intrigue.

Rating: 8/10