American Gangster

Name: American Gangster
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: November 2, 2007
Duration: 157 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 436 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 436 Ratings

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American Gangster

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 2, 2007 | R

Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe

Summary: Nobody used to notice Frank Lucas, the quiet driver for one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses. But when his boss suddenly dies, Frank exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule theNobody used to notice Frank Lucas, the quiet driver for one of the inner city's leading black crime bosses. But when his boss suddenly dies, Frank exploits the opening in the power structure to build his own empire and create his own version of the American Dream. Through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade and floods the streets with a purer product at a better price. Lucas outplays all of the leading crime syndicates and becomes not only one of the city's mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars. Richie Roberts is an outcast cop close enough to the streets to feel a shift of control in the drug underworld. Roberts believes someone is climbing the rungs above the known Mafia families and starts to suspect that a black power player has come from nowhere to dominate the scene. Both Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that sets them apart from their own colleagues, which makes them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. The destinies of these two men will become intertwined as they approach a confrontation in which only one of them can come out on top. [Universal]… Expand

Director: Ridley Scott

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 157 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Lou Lumenick

Denzel Washington dazzles in his best screen performance to date as Frank Lucas. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Crowe has rarely been better, and the same goes for director Scott, who parallels and then dovetails Lucas and Roberts' stories with sublime, gritty precision, working up to a magnificent "Godfather III"-style crosscutting sequence that electrifies an already explosive tale. Read full review

Tasha Robinson

Only Washington stands out; he's charming, intense, and charismatic as ever. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

It lacks momentum, and thus the propulsion required to rocket it into the movie mythosphere. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Often best around the edges. Without making a big deal about it, Scott reveals how the Mafia, while putting up a businesslike front, deplored the incursion of black gangsters into the drug trade. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Greatness hovers just outside American Gangster, knocking, angling to be let in. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Offers only the stingiest platform for its actors, and as a piece of storytelling -- built on the foundation of a great story -- it's an epic that's been sliced and diced into so many little morsels that almost nothing in it has any weight. Read full review

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User Reviews

ChristianS.

Nov 12, 2007

The movie is brilliant. Daniel was tremendous. Crowe was spectacular.The support characters were equally impressive. I love the movie. I won't mind watching it again.

1 of 2 users found this helpful

AndyL.

Nov 2, 2007

Fantastic cinematography, acting, and producing.