[Nubs McCracken]

American Gangster stars Denzel Washington as the drug lord Frank Lucas who in the 1970s ruled harlem with his rival Nicky Barnes. Frank was an innovative individual and was able to sell heroin at a lower price with higher potency because of his connections in Asia. He would use some of the soldiers in Vietnam to transport the drugs to the US in military cargo planes. The story takes place from Frank being the driver of another notorious drug kingpin Bumpy Johnson. If you're looking to see a prerequisite for this movie please see the movie Hoodlum with Lawrence Fishburne. The movie shows Frank's vicious rise from Bumpy's driver to Drug Lord. Denzel was superb in this movie showing many sides to him from cunning businessman to ruthless gangster. One part in the movie Frank is eating breakfast at the local diner when he goes down the street, points a gun at a rival's head and pulls the trigger in the middle of the day with people watching. He then goes back in and finishes his breakfast as if nothing happened.
Russel Crowe plays Richie Roberts the cop who helps bring Lucas down and then eventually works with him to bring down crooked cops. Russel Crowe is also phenomenal in this one. Its great how Ridley shows Richie's career as a cop from beginning to end at the same time as you see Lucas' rise. The film also stars Josh Brolin (yes the son of that Aamco guy) as a crooked Special Investigation Unit cop who is cutting confiscated drugs and then selling it back in the street for a profit. Cuba Gooding Jr has a small cameo as Nicky Barnes, Lucas' rival.
I do recommend this movie to anyone if you're interested in Gangster films but something more current and not Italian. This was a great way to end the year and I think Denzel is up for another oscar.

[Beeble Bobble]

Sweet. Sounds like a great film, I may have to go see this one. Thanks Pogue.

[Metallicorphan is an Ass]

looks like a good film,not overly keen on DW though


Josh Brolin suprises me,as i cant think of anything but the goonies that i have seen him in..as for his dad,not sure what Aamco is...but is his dad James Brolin?..from the first Amytiville film with margot kidder(lois lane)


this will be the second of three films with ridley scott directing and russell crowe starring....Gladiator,American Gangster and the forthcoming Robin Hood flick...Nottingham

[Nubs McCracken]

Yep James Brolin is Josh's dad. Besides Goonies he was in Grindhouse as the fucked up doctor dude in Planet Terror, he was in Mimic and also Hollowman.
Wow you don't like DW? I've seen most of his flicks the last few years he's superb. Russel Crowe and Ridley do have a good connection. Denzel has a good connection with Ridley's brother Tony of which Denzel has been in: Deja Vu, Man on Fire, Crimson Tide. I can't wait to see nottingham

[FantasyBarb130]

That's funny because when I think of James brolin I think of Barbra Streisand...not amoco ( which BTW is a gas station/oil company that JB does commercials for)

[Jedibomber24]

metallicorphan, on Nov 5 2007, 12:45 PM, said:

looks like a good film,not overly keen on DW though

He seems to play the same role in all his films (The angry black man) .. Training Day was real good though.. He was pretty funny in a film from back in the day called Carbon Copy. Looking foward to American Gangster hopefully I will see it this weekend.