American Gangster, written by Steven Zaillian and Mark Jacobson

American Gangster, written by Steven Zaillian and Mark Jacobson

A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E  and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

-          "There are two sides to the American Dream"

This is the tagline of the movie.

And it is well found.

For being the American Gangster is one of the sides.

The dark one.

There are many nominations for this film:

-          From Oscars to Golden Globes and on to BAFTAs.

The cast speaks for itself in this lineup:

Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr.

And the director is the famous Ridley Scott.

The director of:

-          Alien, Blade Runner, The Martian and other excellent works.

He was funny when he talked about The Martian and its inclusion in the comedy category at the Golden Globes.

But he talked in a rather martial tone and seems to be a really grave man.

The American Gangster is Frank Lucas.

He is portrayed by Denzel Washington.

Although we have similarities with other gangster movies, this one is different.

In Godfather, Goodfellas and other renowned films, the Mafiosi were...Italian, as the name plainly suggests.

Breaking Bad and others had a connection with Mexico.

Which is alas, the source of many, probably most of the drugs on the North American market.

But this is the nineties.

And Frank Lucas is an intrepid, ingenious man.

And he brings heroin to Manhattan from the...Far East.

And not just that, but he bribes men in the Army to fly it to him.

This kind of film needs a good opposition.

Apart from the corrupt army officials, we have policemen that are just as bad as the drug dealers.

Indeed, some of them are just taking the drugs confiscated by their colleagues and sell it back on the street.

Detective Trupo, played very well by Josh Brolin is one of the leaders of mobsters disguised as policemen.

Russell Crowe, a rather tempestuous actor, has the role of Richie Roberts.

This detective is about the only honest , positive character around.

Indeed, when he finds with his partner about one million dollars of mob money, he takes it to the station.

They all regard him as a fool, a traitor and an enemy.

-          Why?

-          Well, how could he blow the chance to put one million or half that into his pocket!?

That was the mentality.

His dedication to the force did not help in his private life either.

He has to go to trial for the custody of his child.

He is divorced and appears to live for his passion:

Getting the American Gangster and his acolytes into jail...

-          Would he manage that?

-          What do you think?

A very good entertainment.