American Gangster [Blu-ray], starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Kevin Corrigan, Josh Brolin, Ruby Dee: DVDNear.com

American Gangster [Blu-ray]

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Denzel Washington, Josh Brolin, Kevin Corrigan, Ruby Dee, Russell Crowe
Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 157 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-10-14
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios

Movie Reviews of American Gangster [Blu-ray]

Movie Review: Money Is Everything
Summary: 5 Stars

I think that for a film to be truly successful, it has to resonate with the audience on more levels than mere entertainment. It has to be compelling, connecting emotionally as well as stylistically, in turn allowing for a genuine emotional response. Ridley Scott's "American Gangster"--based on Mark Jacobson's magazine article "The Return of Superfly"--is about as compelling as films get, giving an account of the rise and fall of Harlem heroine kingpin Frank Lucas. I never once felt as if I was watching an adaptation of a true story: every character and every event is incredibly convincing, so much so that it occasionally veers into unnerving territory. To be so uncompromising is both refreshing and repulsive, and that's probably why the film works so well.

Taking place between 1968 and 1973, "American Gangster" tells two stories that exist harmoniously, despite having no interaction until twenty minutes before the film's end. The first story focuses on Lucas (Denzel Washington), a hardened criminal who has no tolerance for incompetence or disloyalty; he'll willingly set one enemy on fire and shoot another in the head in broad daylight. At the same time, he's collected and low key, about as inconspicuous as an everyday businessman. Indeed, business is what he lives for, and he makes sure to follow the guidelines that define American Capitalism: work hard, give respect to those who deserve it, and reap the benefits. This would be fine if only it weren't through the distribution of heroine, which he buys wholesale from a Thai drug lord. Lucas credits his knowledge of business and loyalty to Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson (Clarence Williams III), who was a Harlem icon before his untimely death.

As a man who values devotion, it's disturbing to think that (1) he gets married, and (2) that members of his own family got involved in his drug trafficking. In the film, the only member left in the dark about his life is his mother (Ruby Dee), an elderly woman blindsided by his lavish gift giving (not only does he buy her a house on private property, he also places a perfect replica of a lost, beloved vanity table in her bedroom). At one point, his baseball-star nephew confesses that he doesn't want to play ball anymore--he wants to be like his uncle, making millions by overseeing the distribution of drugs. Lucas doesn't react to this immediately, and in that brief moment of sedate reflection, I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

The other story centers on Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), a New Jersey narcotics detective. For a cop that believes in doing the right thing, he certainly has a fair number of problems, not the least of which is studying to become an attorney: for one thing, his personal life is in shambles because of a bitter divorce and custody battle; but more importantly, his moral compass doesn't earn him any respect from the Department. Consider the confiscation of nearly one million dollars in drug money--he actually turns it in when he could have taken it all and shared it with his partners.

But as he delves further into the underground world of drugs, he learns that this is only the tip of the iceberg. A large number of cops, especially those in the Narcotics division, are taking bribes, not only from Lucas, but from many other dealers, as well. Roberts' superior--Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin)--is one of those involved, so much so that at a certain point, I found it difficult to determine whose side he was on (his own, probably). Roberts eventually realizes that Lucas isn't the one he should be after, but rather whomever Lucas is buying his stash from. In order to find out who this is and where the operation is located, Roberts has to find some way to catch Lucas. Of course, this won't be so easy; there's virtually no physical evidence linking Lucas to anything.

This detailed, complex sequence of events unfolds with extreme precision, so extreme that it almost becomes burdensome. But I think that was the point: a rough, multifaceted story is being told, and the audience needs to feel as much a part of it as the characters do. It didn't seem as if I was watching this movie, but rather participating in it, feeling and thinking along with the actors were thinking and feeling in their roles. I don't think I've ever had this experience with a film before, so I can't say that I'm used to it. But I can say that I deeply appreciated this film's ability to involve me, to draw me in so thoroughly that I left emotionally drained. And at a hefty two and a half hours, there's plenty of time for the draining to occur.

Oddly enough, this is the brilliance of "American Gangster." Ridley Scott has crafted a film so focused that it doesn't just play, it actually happens. Both Washington and Crowe give incredibly realistic performances, pretty much to the point of not seeming like performances at all. I can't say how often this happens, but I'd guess that it isn't too often. It probably helps that the screenplay is based on actual events--a purely fictional piece is rarely capable of drama this compelling.

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Summary of American Gangster [Blu-ray]

Academy Award® winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe team with director Ridley Scott (Gladiator) in this powerful, epic story. Armed with ruthless tactics and a strict sense of honor, crime boss Frank Lucas (Washington) rules Harlem's chaotic drug underworld. When outcast cop Richie Roberts (Crowe) sets out to bring down Lucas's multimillion-dollar empire, it plunges both men into a legendary confrontation.

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American Gangster [Blu-ray]