American Gangster on DVD (2007)

Ridley back on form

citizenk from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 31/10/2007

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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A day of fishing is packed with more excitement

KatiMark from Warwickshire, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 05/01/2008

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.

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Long

bella411 [Highly rated reviewer] , 19/12/2007

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.

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A Waste Of 2 1/2 Hours

futbar from Barnsley [Highly rated reviewer] , 10/02/2008

Life is preciouses, we get a finite amount and some even get more than others. in 2 1/2 hours i could have driven to London and seen the sites or taken my wife and child out to the park with the dogs. I could have had a hair cut or learned to play my guitar. I could even have gone to the dentist and had this bloody sore tooth out (it would have been less painful than watching this film). But no, 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!

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Ridley back on form

citizenk from London [Highly rated reviewer] , 31/10/2007

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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One for the girls as well

A customer from Norwich , 25/11/2007

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!

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