by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
A Rated R 157 min
In his most powerful performance since Training Day, Denzel Washington portrays ruthless Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster. Lucas singlehandedly ran the Harlem rackets in the 70s. He conducted the business of extortion, murder, gambling, prostitution and drug dealing in Harlem as the sole proprietor – the black Godfather. Lucas lived like a corporate CEO, with a large family and a beautiful wife – all the trappings of the American dream built on the power of his will and his ruthless murder of rivals.
Based on a true story adapted from Mark Jacobson’s 2000 New York magazine interview with Lucas, master scribe Steven Zaillian created a street-wise and penetrating script. Russell Crowe deftly inhabits the skin of honest cop (one of the few) Richie Roberts, who sacrifices his marriage to bring down Lucas. With most of his colleagues on the take from Lucas, Roberts is obsessed with this major crime lord, dubbing him bigger than the Mafia.
With Ridley Scott at the helm and cinematographer Harris Savides’ innovative camera work, the 70s mean streets of NYC burst to life. This is Scott’s best work since Gladiator. But savvy viewers have to give credit to the collaboration of Scott, Washington, Crowe, and screenwriter Zaillian in making this gritty story materialize on the screen with such explosive energy. Washington channels the hellish soul of Lucas, so full of false pride and patriotic fervor, thinking of himself as an American hero. Then along comes this flatfoot detective Richie Roberts, who can’t be bribed and at first seems like an annoying fly in Lucas’ soup.
However, Roberts, like Frank Serpico, is a plodding foot soldier of justice. He attends night school studying law for the bar exam. Roberts is playing a dangerous game by shunning the regular bribes his colleagues are taking so Lucas can operate with impunity. Roberts is on his own and can trust no one as he takes on Lucas’ power base as the lone investigator.
Like all big time gangsters, Lucas rose to prominence by casting a wide net of fear and murder. Lucas came to NYC from his humble North Carolina roots as driver for black mobster Bumby Johnson. Soon Lucas is Bumby’s protégée, learning the drug business as a corporate enterprise. Lucas bypasses the middleman, including the Mafia, controlling the distribution of his product from its source in Southeast Asia, then he ships it back to the States in military coffins by bribing the handlers. He then hired his brothers and cousins and soon is living la dolce vita with his mucho gorgeous Puerto Rican wife (Lymari Nadal).
Lucas’ sell-direct business model makes him filthy rich quickly as he eliminates the competition by selling high-grade product for less and doing his own dirty-work. “Never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself” is Lucas’ motto. His henchmen both respect and fear Lucas, knowing that crossing him would mean a quick death by multiple bullet wounds.
Lucas had rivals such as a wannabe kingpin played by Cuba Gooding Jr., a crooked cop played by Josh Brolin and a mob boss (Armand Assante) that wants to take Lucas nationwide as his partner. This is best gangster movie since The Godfather. It has Ridley Scott’s stamp of excellence with the acting prowess of Washington and Crowe as opposing forces. Kiddyup!
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
