By Toma Lynn Smith
Before director Ridley Scott (“Alien,” “Gladiator”) directed “American Gangster,” he must have taken a visual inventory of the most popular gangster, drug lord and mafia movies. His film shows the rise and somewhat fall of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), an untouchable and very rich heroine dealer in 1970s Harlem. Also shown is the challenging judicial life of “good” cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who is assigned to take Lucas, his suppliers and cohorts down by any means necessary.
Although Scott makes the movie original by paralleling stories of the two main characters, he copies from other films quite frequently. When Lucas meets his wife (Lymari Nadal), it is very similar to “Blow” when George Jung (Johnny Depp) falls for Mirtha (Penelope Cruz) from a glance across the room. This is also like 1983’s “Scarface,” when Tony Montana (Al Pacino) steals Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer) from the powerful drug lord. However, Mrs. Lucas is never shown snorting cocaine (or shooting up in this case).
Close to the end, the film shows the raiding of Lucas’ “factories” while he sits in church with his mother and wife; it is too much like “The Godfather’s” baptismal scene.
Along with duplication, another phenomenon used is the current use of rappers as actors. This film’s actors include T.I., Common, RZA and elder hip hopper Fab Five Freddy. Although the movie’s setting is nostalgic with a dull, but captivating look to it, the rappers often seemed out of place and appear to be used to lure younger audiences.
There is some good to this movie though: outstanding performances by Crowe and Washington. Hopefully one of them will win an Oscar to keep their other Oscars company. As for the writer Steven Zaillian, maybe he’ll be nominated, but that’s for the Academy to decide.
Duplication is not unheard of in this genre of illegal activity, cinematic story telling. However, this film does fulfill the status of being a classic: great dialogue, excellent acting (by both “knowns” and unknowns) and violence.
