Wednesday, 2 September 2026

American Gangster 2007 by AverageMansReviews

American Gangster 2007 by AverageMansReviews


Review Time

Warning: there is flashing effects/colourful effects/drugs/shooting/vehicle hit/animal cruelty/suicide/medical references to racism

Our story begins in 1968 in Harlem: where we meet Frank Lucas [Denzel Washington:] he is the right-hand man that takes over from this mob boss of Harlem, over many years this detective/studying to be an attorney; Detective  Richie Roberts [Russell Crowe:] he is very good in his professional life, not so much in his personal life, in a nutshell; gets put in charge of his own unit to stop the flow of cocaine coming in to the US at the time and from here on out.

Generally speaking: the storyline/script is based on real-life events; that is not the problem well for the vast majority anyway, the framework, the pacing and the character developments of this 154 minutes film; for most part of this movie; the film has been roughly split down into; Lucas/Washington which moves with much more of a identity, progress and direction, meanwhile Detective Roberts/Crowe definitely reminds you that this film is long, but the closer they get to working together/or working together this film is good, but then again on top of that we have about 25 minutes roughly around the final quarter or more where this structure and film lose the plot and then it has too quickly pull itself together to a good standard to get over the line; when you are in the midst of terrible portion of this movie is unfortunately it is where this dog gets shot in the head [even though this is based on real-life events; I am sure the storyline/script isn't that greatly affected if they accidentally/purposely kind of miss this scene out or the dog doesn't get shot at all; you know come up with something to achieve your objective without killing the dog would have been much better.]

Art, character development and action; on both counts they are very much the generic outlook for the kind of film they were going for here; even though Lucas tells one of his brothers not to basically look like you have/we have lots of money it kind of sticks out and then burns his gift from his wife, but clearly has money as he moves himself, his wife and his into this big house coinciding these gunfights action sequences that are likewise generic for 99%.

Character developments, performances and action; as you may have guessed that character developments are a very much a paint by numbers out lying on what they are meant to be, which for the vast majority of this cast creates good performances throughout; but then again we have Washington being the shining star in this movie as the person I watched some of this content with; referenced and I am paraphrasing here; there are a lot of stages within the opening section and slightly a bit more, where he doesn't actually speak that much; he allows his body language, mannerisms and some dialogue to speak for him; as they go from the right-hand to the mob boss and the growth between one to the other and simultaneously what kind of mob boss he wants to be; be it respect or fear which brings me onto the one and only action sequence that had value; in a nutshell he gave this character time to sort out business and now it is time to pay; which I should point out Lucas has a gun point blank range on this individual's head so either way this business is going to be resolved right here and right now; in broad daylight with many people around, but at this point he knows this is his domain and people are not going to say anything, Lucas just wants what he is owed nothing more nothing less.

This film receives: 6/10, this film is good; we have everything I have said about this film this particular mark is a fair outcome and even though I am just stated it; allow me to make it crystal clear; this film would never been the same without Washington. This film also has some awards accredited to its name such as 12 Winners which include but not limited to BET Awards 2008 BET Award Best Actor Denzel Washington Shared with: The Great Debaters and 38 Nominees which also include but not limited to Academy Awards, USA Oscar 2008 Best Achievement in Art Direction Arthur Max (art director) Beth A. Rubino (set decorator)[in total this film has 2 Oscar Nominees to its name.]

 

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