American Gangster x 4

by: A Fly Guy

The first time was for the opening day experience. The second time was to catch what I missed the first time. The third & fourth were the litmus tests to reassure myself that I wasn’t just an overzealous Denzel Washington fan. But was this movie really that incredible? Yes, all two hours and forty minutes of it. Six bullets let loose from the barrel before the title American Gangster finds itself rested on the widescreen, and I am completely drawn in. There was a plethora of superb screen actors that all played their roles to a “T”; the most powerful of course being Denzel Washington [Frank Lucas] and Russell Crowe [Ritchie Roberts]. You can almost smell the stench of un-bathed bodies lining the halls of dope houses, and Harlem street corners, succumbing to their desires for “Blue Magic.” The blaring horns of passing cabbies, and call outs of heroin-addicted females cat-walking down the avenues, boom back and forth across the theatre room; making you feel as though you have been jolted back to 1968. These young women go searching for someone, anyone who could come to their aid and supply them with that “fix.” These young mothers, sisters, daughters, finding themselves lost in their own addictions. Young black men who signed up to fight for a country where Civil Rights leaders were being assassinated, also found themselves victims of heroin addictions as a means of coping with the physical and psychological ailments of the Vietnam war. And here comes Frank Lucas; so unapologetic about his chosen profession. I was once heard Styles P, of the hip-hop group the LOX, describe himself as “a gangster and a gentleman.” I don’t think I have ever seen that ambiguity any more personified than in the performance Washington gives. Respectable to his mother; calculated with his speech; affirmative when talking business, these are the qualities Washington captures on screen. I almost forget at times that Frank Lucas was perhaps the most notorious heroin dealer this country may have ever birthed. Early on I find myself rooting for his character’s continued prosperity; ignoring his violent side; pushing the images of overdosing addicts to the back of my mind. I startle myself when I realize I am silently congratulatory as I watch images of his wedding. But without giving away too many details of the story, I will say, that success truly doesn’t last forever when your chosen career path is that of a criminal one. Overall, I give this movie the "FLY GUY CO-SIGN." It was brilliantly shot with 1970’s New York City as its backdrop. I wouldn’t be surprised at Academy Award nominations for both Washington and Russell Crowe for the work they did in this film; however, it would be nice to see an actor of Denzel’s caliber be awarded ‘best actor’ for roles such as “Hurricane” Carter, or Malcolm X. It seems the motion picture association finds the roles where he is depicted as a detriment to society, his most critically acclaimed performances. Why is that?
That aint’ ‘Gangster!’