American Gangster is truly engaging

Actor: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Director: Ridley Scott

Forget everything else and head straight to the multiplex this weekend to catch a screening of American Gangster, director Ridley Scott’s remarkable film about real-life drug-lord Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington.

An extraordinary entrepreneur who takes over the Harlem heroin business when his boss dies, Frank Lucas emerges one of the biggest dealers during the 70s when he figures out a foolproof way to obtain his product directly from the suppliers in South East Asia.

This enables him to sell the purest material available at the cheapest possible price, hence forcing other suppliers off the streets. American Gangster is the story of Lucas’ amazing rise to power - a man worth more than 150 million dollars at the time of his arrest.

It’s also the story of another man’s stubborn determination to bring down the drug mafia in New York. That man, played by Russell Crowe, is police detective Richie Roberts, possibly the last honest narcotics cop in the city, who nails Lucas eventually and takes down his empire in a thrilling climax that’s superbly intercut between a bloody massacre and a church service.

Fans of the gangster-film genre will notice several references to the best gangster films - Godfather, Scarface, Serpico, even The Sopranos - and it’s true American Gangster doesn’t deviate too much from the structure of a typical gangster film, but it’s remarkable nonetheless because of the two sterling performances that turn this film from ordinary to extra-ordinary.

Denzel Washington shines as Lucas, adding little nuances to the character that make him both real and relatable. But my vote goes to Russell Crowe, the supporting player in this film, who not only physically transforms himself to play Roberts, but turns in a solid performance as the almost desperately determined detective.

It’s a shame neither Denzel Washington nor Russell Crowe landed Oscar nominations for their work in this film.

I’m going with four out of five and two thumbs up for American Gangster, it’s one of those immensely engaging films that’ll keep you glued to your seats from start to finish. Despite its daunting length - some two hours and forty minutes - this is a film you cannot miss.

Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)