2.5/4  Pretentious film.
Nice movie. Nice story. Nothing great happends, except a couple of scenes where DW wants to deliver an Al Pacino scene yelling and getting cranky. He doesn't, but firstly because of the lack of heart and passion in this movie. Sadly to say... (read full)

3/4  Not bad.. Just not the Masterpiece it could be.
American Gangster seemingly has all the ingredients of a great movie: a great story, (multiple) Oscar-winning stars, a very solid supporting cast, and a good director. However, the film is not the sum of its parts. How do you go wrong with... (read full)

3/4  "My Man"
This was really good, but not amazing. I feel like there were some awkward gaps to due some not quite perfect editing, but still a good story. I thought 3 hours of watching this was going to be torture, but after sitting though it I think ... (read full)

3/4  Overrated, Overhyped; Good but Not Great
It's a pretty strong movie but it's not as strong as most people claim. I thought it was a bit too long due to approximately ten scenes that show Frank Lucas as an influential and powerful businessman. Two or three would have been enough. ... (read full)

2.5/4  Say Hello To A Decent Gangster Flick
I had really high hopes for this film when I sat down to watch it. It has two of my favorite actors (Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe), and one of my all time favorite directors (Ridley Scott). Now don't get me wrong I enjoyed the fil... (read full)

3/4  This is my kind of film, I wana go gangster
I never ever liked gangster movies. Not until now, I suppose my taste in movies gets better in time. What's not to like about this movie. You've got great actors, a very good script, a perfect period in time and who better to helm this mas... (read full)

3/4  American Gangster Quick Review
This movie takes a while to warm up, but by the end it is a pretty descent film, definitely worth seeing.

3/4  American Gangster Quick Review
Even though it wasn't as good as I thought it'd be, I still enjoyed this movie.

3/4  American Gangster Quick Review
This is not be be-all, end-all of crime & drug films, but it is a good movie. I like the way it shows all sides : gangster, family man, dirty cops, good cops - it raises a lot of questions about right and wrong and leaves you to decide.

3/4  American Gangster Quick Review
The movie gives a glamorous and clear insight of the mafia business. What also gives this movie a twist is the unlikely hood of having a gentle black mafia leader battling with the police and then finally is caught.


2.5/4  American Gangster Quick Review
This was a pretty ordinary movie with nothing over the top but still ok to watch. I still think blow is the ultimate drug trafficking movie and this movie does not even come close.

4/4  American Gangster Quick Review
Denzel is again great as the bad guy, this time a drug trafficker who learns to cut out the middle man and under-sell the competitor to make millions. Great pacing and fantastically shot, the movie is one of the best of the year.

1/5 profanity and blood
  by Betty the Baker (NC)
I did not like Denzel Washington in this type of movie. The movie was full of violence and vulgar language. If I had known this, I would not have purchased it from Amazon. I like Denzel Washington in family type movies or movies of other types, but not this one.

4/5 The Godfather meets The French Connection
  by Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY)
For the longest time, it has been argued that the godfather (from the movie of the same title) is not about Vito Corleone but about Michael Corleone because it is about his ascent/descent into the underworld. And, at the very end, he is the godfather to Connie's son while his rivals are being executed. In the same respect, I had to wonder about who the real gangster is here: Frank Lucas (Washington) or Special Detective Truppo (Brolin). While we do watch Lucas' burgeoning success as a drug dealer, it is Truppo who acts with the viciousness of a gangster. He and his flock of black-jacketed, vulture-like crooked cops are more terrifying and brazen than Lucas. Lucas acts with compassion at times--even while burning an enemy alive in the opening sequence, he mercifully blasts him away before the flames can prolong his agony. In fact, any time he resorts to violence seems forced. Truppo has no compunction about saying things like "Maybe next time I throw you and your brother in the river." In fact Truppo is a nemesis to both Lucas and Officer Roberts (Crowe). His malevolence is everywhere.

Then, like "The French Connection" it is about the complex world of drug-trafficking and the frustrations of law enforcement to understand it--especially in the wild and wooly days of the late-60s to late-70s. Crowe does an exceptional job of expressing this frustration and confusion (he cannot believe that a Black man could do what the Italian Mafia could not--monopolize the drug trade in all five boroughs and then the outer counties, including New Jersey). To make matters worse, Roberts has to contend with the corruption in his own department.

All this makes for a dark but engrossing film that leaves you impressed with director Scott's ability to recreate a world that has vanished a few decades ago, at least in appearance.

So why not a perfect score? Two things: First, the prolonged scenes concerning Roberts' divorce are way too distracting. While I love looking at Carla Gugino, her thankless role in thankless scenes detract from the film's pacing. Second, the second disc--with its self-congratulatory nods to the costume designers, set designers, fried egg designers--really aren't worth watching. The only thing on that disc worth watching is the discussion between the real Frank Lucas and the real Richie Roberts. And even that discussion is marginally interesting. Still, this is a set worth owning.

5/5 American Gangster
  by Arnita D. Brown (USA)
A story told smoothly and very well. A richly satisfying film and probably the best gangster crime drama of the year.

5/5 "They look at me like it's Christmas, and I'm Santa Claus."
  by Eric S. Kim (Southern California)
This is yet another ultimate movie from Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington, and Russell Crowe. This is not just a gangster flick, but, like The Godfather & Heat, is also a psychological drama. It tells the story of Frank Lucas, an African-American man who becomes a #1 drug importer in 60's Harlem. Richie Roberts is the cop who's willing to bring Lucas and his tainted business down. Seems like a simple story, but the film itself is far more complex. There is more story than action (not to say it is bad, but it really stands out with other awe-inspiring motion pictures). Ridley Scott simply knows how to make a great film, and this is one of his greatest. The performances here are also memorable. Washington, Crowe, Brolin, Gooding Jr., Nadal, Dee, Common, and T.I. give their roles their all, and they do it almost flawlessly. I'm surprised Washington wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. And the costumes and sets are just ravishing! It really feels like you're back in the late 60's, where you're anticipating the most intense boxing night in history.

It's not as great as other gangster/cop flicks, but it's great on its own level. Grade: A

3/5 dull most of the time
  by B. E Jackson (Pennsylvania)
I didn't find a whole lot to like about this movie to be completely honest. American Gangster had a pace that was only sometimes interesting probably because there wasn't enough action segments to keep me satisfied- just spoken bits that were never really memorable, and every time Russell Crowe spoke in his character role the quality of the storytelling felt like it slipped a little. It's like the movie kept tricking you into thinking it would become more interesting with every new segment but never delivered.

I realize most people who've watched American Gangster really respect it, but I can't bring myself to call this film a classic or anything- just barely good enough to keep a story flowing, and nothing more.