Better Late Than Never…Right?

So I know it’s more than after the fact - it’s long out on DVD - but I just saw American Gangster for the first time last night, and it’s definitely a movie you have to comment on. The film did well and generated a lot of buzz, seemingly mostly because of its stars, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Maybe it was underrated, though.

There were definitely some issues with the film. On the upside, it moved really fast. On the downside, it moved really fast. It’s the sort of thing you can’t quite put your finger on. At two hours and thirty-eight minutes, the film is certainly long enough. And you don’t feel like you’re missing out on any important details in main character Frank Lucas’ life and career in crime. But somehow, it just feels like you’re catapaulting through the story. Lucas comes across everything so easily, there’s no explanation of how certain things fall into his lap. I suppose I’m finding it difficult to not compare this to Blow, both stories of two men finding dream-worthy success in the drug trade only to be absolutely torn down in tragedy. Blow satisfied me more plot-wise. It seemed more realistic, because we actually saw how George Jung went from point A to point B. Frank Lucas sort of floats from one windfall to another, until the end of the film when it all crashes down.

But the floating is shown beautifully. In true characteristic form, Ridley Scott paints an uncomfortably gritty reality in a poetic light that’s easier to watch and more moving than stomach-churning. The drug use in the 1970’s is the background for this story to play out on, and it’s absolutely horrifying to what level the abuse reached. And yet it just made you think “wow” as you shake your head in sadness and disbelief. The heroin-addled New Yorkers and Vietnam soldiers were too real, and yet some sort of art that almost blows you away.

As far as the main characters, Russell Crowe, as Richie Roberts, the cop after Lucas,  just falls short, period. You don’t love him, you don’t hate, you don’t care. Washington is predictably haunting as Lucas. Josh Brolin is over-the-top, 2-D evil as Detective Trupo, the corrupt villain here. Which brings me to my point in reviewing this movie. It had such an interesting dynamic, in which the good guys and bad guys are clearly presented, and then shifted around until you can’t decide who’s who. A lot of gangster movies make you fall for the criminal being chased. You love him, you hate the cops, you don’t want him to get caught. Other movies make the cops the heroes, who will save the town from the vicious fugitives. All else aside, American Gangster is kinda brilliant because each of these three men is good and bad. It’s exponentially more realistic than other gangster movies in that aspect. Because nothing is that cut and dry, that this guy’s good and this one’s bad. Frank Lucas was a cold-blooded killer and drug lord. He also provided endlessly for his family and took care of his neighborhood. Richie Roberts was one of the most honest cops in this era, and yet he was a gross adulterer in his marriage and he neglects his young son. Detective Trupo is a man of the law, with absolutely no morals.

You won’t fall for Frank Lucas. You won’t cry when things start going wrong for him. But you’ll feel for him, and you’ll feel the sadness for his family. You’ll hate the arresting cops a little. Unlike other gangster films, you won’t love Lucas, but you’ll care about him, because that’s the human power Washington brings to the role. In the end, you’ll see every character for who he is: a man.

July 9th, 2009 by Courtney Iseman | Posted in Reviews | (0)