‘American Gangster’ is Brilliant
(AP Photo / Universal Studios, David Lee)
Universal Studios provided this photo of Denzel Washington, left, and Russell Crowe in a scene from "American Gangster."
RATING:
5 out of 5 Tyler Roses
By ERIN K. KING
TylerPaper.com
(Released: Friday, Nov. 2, 2007; Universal Pictures; Directed by: Ridley Scott; Written by: Steven Zaillian and Mark Jacobson; Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin; Rated: R).
‘American Gangster’ will sweep the 2008 Academy Awards with its amazing cast, brilliant writing, and superb directing.
Based on a true story, ‘Gangster’ begins in 1967 Harlem with a shockingly violent act performed by small-time mobster Frank Lucas, played by Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington. Before Lucas’s mentor and mob boss dies, he passes on an invaluable business tip about cutting out the middle man. Lucas builds his empire on this idea and becomes the most successful drug lord on the east coast by bringing in drugs directly from Vietnam. Despite Lucas being a criminal, there is a quality about him that will win you over.
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Corrupt cops and crime rule the streets New York and this trickles down into Jersey. Head bad cop, Detective Trupo, is played by award-nominated actor Josh Brolin. His seediness and cockiness is dead-on.
Good cops are seldom, but hope is found in Detective Richie Roberts, played by Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe. Roberts builds his career on honesty and integrity. His claim to fame is recovering a little under $1 million from a dirty cop and turning it over to the proper authorities.
From rappers like RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. a.k.a. Common, and Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. a.k.a. T.I., to veteran actors like Roger Guenveur Smith ("Get on the Bus") and Joe Morton ("Speed") and Kevin Corrigan ("Grounded for Life"), the cast of "Gangster" is extraordinary.
Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of Nicky Barnes, Lucas’s eccentric competitor, is his best performance since "Jerry Maguire."
The women of this film are incredibly strong. Carla Gugino ("Entourage") plays Roberts' ex-wife, who forces him examine his own sins and ultimately puts him in his place.
Seeing more of Redtop (newcomer Melissia Hill) in "Gangster" would have been a terrific addition. Hopefully, Hill’s career will take off after this film.
Emmy-winning actress Ruby Dee plays Mama Lucas, who is soft-spoken and gracious until she must slap her son back into reality. Mama Lucas reveals that she may be old, but she is not stupid. She understands that if her oldest son were a preacher, then her younger sons would be preachers. If Lucas were a soldier, then his younger brothers would have military careers. Mama Lucas accepts the fact that her oldest son has a career in crime, and her younger sons follow in his footsteps by working for him. However, Mama Lucas draws the line at killing cops, even if they are corrupt cops, because everyone knows “You can’t shoot cops.”
Lymari Nadal ("Barbershop") as Lucas’s wife, Eve, is wonderful, but a little more depth to her character is needed. Her best scene is the wedding night. The sadness in her eyes and across her face is unbearably heartbreaking when Lucas throws his engagement gift, a $50,000 chinchilla fur coat, into the fireplace. The coat is a curse on his career and his empire’s downfall, and therefore, must be destroyed.
Award-winning director Sir Ridley Scott ("A Good Year") made this film look authentic, gritty and seamless.
When studying 1970s cinema, a common characteristic is grittiness or a grainy, earth-tone look. This is not an effect, however; just a sign of the poor film quality used in the 1970s. Technological advancements in film replaced this look by a clear picture and bright colors.
Nevertheless, "Gangster" looks like an authentic 1970s film. Instead of poor quality film, this look was achieved by certain decisions in the set design, props, costume, and season it was filmed. "Gangster" looks authentic and should be recognized for its effort.
"Gangster" is a remarkable film and will receive many Oscar nominations. Every aspect of this film is brilliant. The cast is amazing. The writing is flawless. This is one of Scott’s greatest films. "American Gangster" is a film you can’t miss.
"American Gangster" is showing at the Times Square Cinemas, Hollywood Cinemas and Carmike 14 in Tyler, 4 Star Cinema in Kilgore, and the Carmike 10 and Hollywood 14 in Longview.
Erin K. King is a photographer and writer for TylerPaper.com, who writes movie reviews among other responsibilities. She has been a Tylerite for almost 25 years and has a degree in Film and Video Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
Good cops are seldom, but hope is found in Detective Richie Roberts, played by Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe. Roberts builds his career on honesty and integrity. His claim to fame is recovering a little under $1 million from a dirty cop and turning it over to the proper authorities.
From rappers like RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. a.k.a. Common, and Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. a.k.a. T.I., to veteran actors like Roger Guenveur Smith ("Get on the Bus") and Joe Morton ("Speed") and Kevin Corrigan ("Grounded for Life"), the cast of "Gangster" is extraordinary.
Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr.’s portrayal of Nicky Barnes, Lucas’s eccentric competitor, is his best performance since "Jerry Maguire."
The women of this film are incredibly strong. Carla Gugino ("Entourage") plays Roberts' ex-wife, who forces him examine his own sins and ultimately puts him in his place.
Seeing more of Redtop (newcomer Melissia Hill) in "Gangster" would have been a terrific addition. Hopefully, Hill’s career will take off after this film.
Emmy-winning actress Ruby Dee plays Mama Lucas, who is soft-spoken and gracious until she must slap her son back into reality. Mama Lucas reveals that she may be old, but she is not stupid. She understands that if her oldest son were a preacher, then her younger sons would be preachers. If Lucas were a soldier, then his younger brothers would have military careers. Mama Lucas accepts the fact that her oldest son has a career in crime, and her younger sons follow in his footsteps by working for him. However, Mama Lucas draws the line at killing cops, even if they are corrupt cops, because everyone knows “You can’t shoot cops.”
Lymari Nadal ("Barbershop") as Lucas’s wife, Eve, is wonderful, but a little more depth to her character is needed. Her best scene is the wedding night. The sadness in her eyes and across her face is unbearably heartbreaking when Lucas throws his engagement gift, a $50,000 chinchilla fur coat, into the fireplace. The coat is a curse on his career and his empire’s downfall, and therefore, must be destroyed.
Award-winning director Sir Ridley Scott ("A Good Year") made this film look authentic, gritty and seamless.
When studying 1970s cinema, a common characteristic is grittiness or a grainy, earth-tone look. This is not an effect, however; just a sign of the poor film quality used in the 1970s. Technological advancements in film replaced this look by a clear picture and bright colors.
Nevertheless, "Gangster" looks like an authentic 1970s film. Instead of poor quality film, this look was achieved by certain decisions in the set design, props, costume, and season it was filmed. "Gangster" looks authentic and should be recognized for its effort.
"Gangster" is a remarkable film and will receive many Oscar nominations. Every aspect of this film is brilliant. The cast is amazing. The writing is flawless. This is one of Scott’s greatest films. "American Gangster" is a film you can’t miss.
"American Gangster" is showing at the Times Square Cinemas, Hollywood Cinemas and Carmike 14 in Tyler, 4 Star Cinema in Kilgore, and the Carmike 10 and Hollywood 14 in Longview.
Erin K. King is a photographer and writer for TylerPaper.com, who writes movie reviews among other responsibilities. She has been a Tylerite for almost 25 years and has a degree in Film and Video Studies from the University of Oklahoma.
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