Alot of people have been talking about this movie to me of how great it is, I did not catch it in cinemas I am affraid but I did get to download it on torrance and I just finished watching it, by the way the soundtrack for this film is really good as well so I recormend you all to buy the album.
Well I downloaded it on torrance and I watched the movie today and just finished watching it, be aware the movie run time is 2 hours and 50mins, if you dont like using your brain and like a film that talks alot then stay at home and watch dhoom 2. American gangster is an all an out gangster movie its done in the goodfarther style but this time a black man who is far powerful then the mafia. Yes its based on a true story and its gripping as hell, lots of people said the movie is a masterpeace, without a doubht it aint no masterpeace but it is a good movie. Not brilliant!, the story is great but very slow at times, but the thing that really saves the film is the powerful performance fromdenzel washington ! His powerful pofermance will blow you away, after al pachino, and de nero we have the next king of acting and its denzel washington Get ready to watch a performance of a life time, this movie is carried by one man and that is denzel washington.
Well before we get into the performance the film is actully set in the post-Second World war in America. It is about a black man Frank Lucas(Denzel Washington) and the troubles of the people of his race. This person rises from nothing to richness by selling pure opium at reasonable prices. He imports the drugs illegally from the South East, puts them into the coffins of the American soldiers who have died in Vietnam and are transported by flight to USA. It is also about an honest cop(Russel Crowe), who tries to catch Frank. The movie has two sepret storys of Russel Crowe who is a stright cop and his story, half way through the film he takes on Frank Lucas case, his story is not as exciting as Franks Lucas who has his own story going. Near the end they finally meet and have a head to head.
The good thing about the movie is that it is for the intelligiant audience who love action with a reason, who like to know more about the underworld and how life for a gangster is about, the downside is that its slow pace at times and the length does become an issue. There are boring moments in the movie and it does lose grip but the last hour and first 40mins is simply amazing. The middle part is when it loses pace, but overal it is deffently worth the watch.
Performances Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, gives one of his carrers best performances, he is evil, he is cool, he is angry, and he is a true gangster, he can talk the talk and walk the walk. Amazing performance and one of the best I seen in recent times. Its always amazing to watch him lose it throw stuff around but when people talk back to him you see him smile and say "my Man" and also play it cool, he is scary at times and he is unpredictable..he loves his family but also wants to gain more and wants the best he lives the character and you know what no one could have portrayed Lucas as well as he did, this is what we call getting into the skin of the character amazing performance really breathtaking!
Watch out for his face expressions when he is arrested outside church and the police surround him, watch out for him when him and Russel Crowe are in the interview room and he out speaks him and loses it at the end. Amazing just pure amazing! Russel Crowe does really well too but I wasnt too intrested in his story at start, he does well and also gives a good performance.
Scenes to watch out for
.Starting scene Franks sets a man on fire and shoots him (very chilling)
. Franks shoots his customer in the head with a gun and returns back to the cafe to eat with his cousins and brothers
. The Shootout scene when they find the drug area
. The church scene when Frank Lucus gets caught
. The Interview scene Russel crow and Denzel face to face
Overal check it out it really is worth the watch but it is boring at times, and many audiences will give up watching it for my advice I give you dont give up and keep watching it only gets better and better. If you are not into gangster films then don’t worry just go watch it for the performances. yes the film has blood init at times so I would not recommend this for the kids either they will get bored and or maybe you dont want them to see or hear the bad language. But for a true movie fan who likes good cinema and a fine script and story with amazing groundbreaking performances? I would say do not give this a miss. TWO THUMBS UP FROM ME GO CHECK IT OUT NOW!
1/2 (3 and half stars)