American Gangster is based on a true story from the late sixties and early seventies. Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) became the biggest heroin dealer in New York during the last years of Vietnam War, whilst Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) was a detective who headed a covert narcotics investigation. Both men were gentlemen in their own ways even though their lives occupied opposing sides of the law. Lucas distanced himself from the heroin-addicted unfortunates and the street brawls and looked after his family, even taking his mother and wife to church every Sunday. Though notorious for his honesty, Lucas was doomed to lose the messy custody battle with his ex-wife because of his slovenly, womanising lifestyle.
This was a time when 75% of the New York Police working on narcotics investigations were supplementing their meagre pay packets by taking bribes from the gangsters who made salubrious incomes selling drugs. And the corruption did not stop with the constabulary. Money bought a considerable amount of cooperation from people in the military who helped Lucas import the magic white powder direct from the growers in Asia. Washington and Crowe are very charismatic and I have no doubt that director Ridley Scott has been very creative with the finer details of their personalities. What makes this film so fantastic is that the incredible events portrayed did happen. Make sure you stay for the final credits.
American Gangster (R) is directed by Ridley Scott.
