American Gangster Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Ridley back on form

After one of the most explosive opening scenes you're ever likely to see for a long time,this slow burner gets into stride and takes you with it. This story of the rise and fall of black 70's Harlem druglord Frank Lucas is loosely based on fact.Denzil Washington stars as Lucas and gives his best performance since his potrayal of a low-life 'tec in Training Day for which he won an Oscar. Lucas is a conservatively dressed small businessman on the surface,but lurking beneath this facade is a ruthless heroin wholesaler who undercuts all competition with deadly

uncut smack straight from the poppy fields in war ravaged Vietnam, He has local politicians,the army, and cops in his pocket,and with their help sets about wiping out his rivals.

The subplot concerns honest cop Russell Crowe who is given the task of putting a squad together in order to clean up the Ciy's drug problem.

The film looks brilliant. Scott and his team have pulled out all the stops in portraying seventies New York in all it's corrupt, faded glory.The cast

are all excellant and the script never lets them down for a single second. Though violent at times,the film is never gratuitous as it blurs the line

between corrupted and corruptor. All in all a tour de force from Scott,

and the best gangster film for an age. Don't miss it.

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[Highly rated reviewer]

A day of fishing is packed with more excitement

Did my fellow reviewers watch the same thing? I left half way through with my friends as it was pure rubbish. You could relate this entire film to the feeling many of us could relate to at the end of the lord of the rings films, frustration and a thought that it will never end.

Every scene in this film lasts 100% longer than it needs to. The acting is dull and uninspiring. The film orientates itself around killing and drugs. Yet another to add to the list of so many other unoriginal plots.

Transparent and see-through. Avoid.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Long

I found this film a struggle to continue watching until the end and i thought the last 30 minutes was the best part of the film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A Waste Of 2 1/2 Hours

The reviewers said this was the best film of the year so i thought 'wehey this must be brill, great actors, big budget the lot' How disappointed i was then that an hour into the film we were so board that we did the unthinkable and walked out of the cinema, we couldn't care less about the characters, the only thing i was left wondering about the film is where i could send my tickets for a refund, and whether i could sue the cinema as this film is surely covered by the sale of goods act, and was definatly NOT fit for purpose!

Ignore the haters

After reading all the negative 0 and 1 star reviews for this film I felt compelled to write a quick note. It has confirmed my belief that it is not people who should review films but the people who should be reviewed before they are allowed to enter a cinema screening. Not only to save them wasting their time but also to prevent them wasting the time of others by disturbing them when they leave half way through a screening because it's too long of all things which seems to be the main gripe in the negative reviews

Cutting to the point anyone who doesn't rate this film at the least a 3. A doesn't deserve to call themselves a film fan and B Doesn't know a great film when they see one.

2 Words - The Best

I have just started to watch films full time, which means at least watching 4 movies a day, also i give reviews for other newspapers and other companies, it has been more than 1 year and this is the best film i have ever seen, Denzel Washington does some excellent acting, being based on a true story, the film gets a 5 out of 5.

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American Gangster - Masterpiece

American Gangster....quite simply the best, most intelligent mob flick to be made since Goodfellas.

The acting is immense, Denzel Washington plays the part of Frank Lucas like no-one else could, he brings his own personal style of style and swagger to the role...whereas Russel Crowe potrays Richie Roberts as a good man, struggling to keep doing the right thing.

The scirpt, although not particualrty lightning quick, takes it times to develop and show the development of Lucas, through starting out as a mere driver to becoming the most powerful man in New York City, the script has no need to rush you through the events, it takes the time to explain all details and leaves you feeling like you know the characters inside out.

This film is for people who enjoy high class cinema and film making, its not your crash bang wallop car chase kind of film...it is a cinematic masterpiece that is to be savoured, taken in and spoken to your mates about the next day....in my humble opinion this is one of the best films, not just of its genre, to come out in years.

One for the girls as well

I got to this see free as a preview, but it is definitly worth paying for. Being a 20yrold female i did wonder if it would centre on a lot of violence but in my opinion it doesnt, anything seen is relevant to the story. I read an interview with the daughter of the real life denzel washington and its not quite as glamourous as the film, but then it wouldnt be as fun would it.

I would definitly reccomend this, and take yr girlfriends along as im sure they would enjoy it too.Denzel and Russel gave excellent performances and at over 2hrs long i didnt feel bored or that the ending was rushed, was a pleasure to watch and i will definitly watch on dvd.

My boyfriend loved it too!

[Highly rated reviewer]

tip for girls....!

defintly not for girls...i normally like a guys kinda film, but this one i just couldnt get into...!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Save your money or suck it and see!

Very dark film. i didnt enjoy this one at all, however, I have heard a lot of people have loved it. I think you will need to watch it to make your own mind up on this one.