Review of American Gangster (2007) by Soweightless — 04 Nov 2007
To mention this film alongside an original crime masterpiece like Scarface or a modern epic like Heat is a travesty. Surely, the actual events the film is based on carried more insight, intrigue, intensity and human emotion than what is presented on screen.
I love a lot of Ridley Scott's films, Bladerunner, White Squall, Aliens, you name it, but what made those films great and entertaining was their fresh look and depth - depth for detail and fashion, but also character depth.
Denzel Washington's character is given presidential treatment here, and the film makes the case for Frank Lucas as a modern day hero. Offensive to me as a black man, that a drug dealer who smuggled heroin in the coffins of U.
S. soldiers is immortalized in such a positive light. But besides the ethical questions, the film is all style, boring structure and faux important. Gangster films can be great, but this is posturing. Admit it.
This review of American Gangster (2007) was written by Soweightless on 04 Nov 2007.
American Gangster has generally received very positive reviews.
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