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Synopsis: (See Trailer)

Nobody used to notice Frank Lucas, the quiet driver to 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, flooding 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, making them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. The destinies of these two men will become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on top.

Review

American Gangster was sadly disappointing. It was long and dry, but unlike a martini there was no buzz. I blame the direction. There was clearly potential for this movie to entertain, but no dice. The only part that excited me was when I got a chance to reminisce in the scenes from Bangkok. This movie would have been better if it were the late 70′s or 80′s, but for today’s times it just did not push the envelope. It would be like Serpico if it were to open up today. Denzel and Russell did fine, but they could have spent their time making a better movie.

I give it 2½ stars

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