Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington has definitely made it tough on actors who portray gangsters.
In American Gangster he plays Frank Lucas, a New York City heroin kingpin from the 1970’s.
Washington’s acting is superlative. That doesn’t take anything away from the performance of Russell Crowe, who plays Detective Ritchie Roberts, but Washington is unbelievable. No one else could have played his role half as well as he did.
American Gangster brings viewers into the life of Frank Lucas, the protegé of former New York kingpin Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson.
After Bumpy’s unfortunate death, Lucas feels it’s his job to continue where his mentor left off.
Lucas thought that things were going to fall right into place, but he gets an initial slap in the face when another dealer reminds him he is not Bumpy. The drup game is a violent one that consists of earning respect through murder. If you’re not willing to kill for the game, consider yourself extinct.
With help from the US Army, Lucas was able to do more than pick up where Bumpy left off. He employed his own family to help keep his business in the green. The business ran smoothly until his wife convinced him to enjoy himself.
I will be astonished if Crowe and Washington aren’t recognized for such great performances.
Director Ridley Scott who also directed Black Hawk Down and Gladiator does an excellent job controlling the pace of the movie.
I think having the characters Frank Lucas and Ritchie Roberts onsite helped Scott get the story from the horse’s mouth. With them giving their story, Scott’s only job was to make sure the movie flowed.
It’s unfortunate that Crowe had to play beside Washington, because his phenomenal performance was overshadowed. Crowe’s savvy shows that he was the right choice for that role.
Hip hop artist Common, RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan and Clifford Harris (T.I.) also make appearances.
The cast is a star-studded one with actors Cuba Gooding Jr. as drug kingpin Nicky Barnes and Ted Levine from Betrayed, Heat and the Monk series.
