Review of American Gangster (2007) by Tristan M — 12 Oct 2014

Great biography of a black drug dealer. It has a good cast, and both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe do great jobs starring as the main characters. The movie itself is very good, very interesting, and keeps you engaged.

I expected more action myself, I got less than expected but it was well done when it happened, and after all the action isn't everything by far. Its based on a true story, and where in other movies that claim to be true but aren't very believable, this one is very believable.

Everything is very convincing, the plot, the acting, the script and the set. It really gets us into the life of this man, and what he accomplished. It sometimes catches us by suprise, such as when he kills the man in the street market because he owed him money, and he simply didn't care.

The scene where the police raid the building where the heroin is packaged is very good and well done, and is the only real sustained action scene. Another great scene is where he walks out of the church to see it surrounded by police, and he looks over them as the church quire sings.

Its a great movie, yet it isn't like most other gangster movie out there, not the typical prohibition era movie with Tommy guns, shootouts and and smuggling alcohol. It's a good movie nonetheless, but there are still others out there that are better than it.