Denzel Washington,
Russell Crowe,
Chiwetel Ejiofor,
Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Josh Brolin
...( see more
)
Based on the life of drug-kingpin-turned-informant, Frank Lucas, who grew up in segregated North Carolina where he watched as his cousin was shot by the Klan for looking at a white girl. He eventually...( read more
)
DVD Release Date: February 19, 2008
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Stats: 70,981 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (70,981)
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January 9, 2010A true masterpiece. An epic cinematic crime classic that ranks with The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Departed. A great, blistering, stylish, riveting, adrenaline-pumping and sizzling crime drama. Director, Ridley Scott has crafted some of his finest work as a filmmaker. A magnif...( read more)
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October 1, 2009Nice to see Ridley Scott making good films again! This is a great Gangster epic, although it can never be compared to the classics (Godfather, Goodfellas), it is one of the best Gangster films of resent times.
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September 4, 2009This movie has a good cast, but it slow starting. It looks at how a gangster uses his family and contacts in the drug world.
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May 17, 2009Brilliant acting by Crowe and Washington plus Scott's near flawless direction, make 'American Gangster' one of the best films.
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March 25, 2009although this film dims slightly with time, it is still a phenomenal film and one of the better gangster films ever made. it almost went the direction of depalmas scarface, but averted such a tragedy just in time to remain an amazing film.
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February 7, 2010one of my fav gangster movies, seen it about 10 times and even did a universtiy english paper on it comparing it to king lear, thought it was a great movie and a great story
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February 5, 2010Good acting, good directing and good writing. But it's a little bit too long than it needed to be.
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January 28, 2010Nice to see Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe back together. It was better when I just saw the previews, though.
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January 26, 2010Some tried to compare it to "The Godfather"... maybe they are wrong, but this film really deserves 5 stars... Denzel Washington once again confirms he is a great actor...
Critic Reviews
November 15, 2007
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times
November 9, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim
It marks a return to the lost art of true storytelling, every bit as epic as 'The Godfather' and just as fascinating to see. full review
November 2, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine
Their ambition is out there. But for all the sprawl, American Gangster feels secondhand. It's like Scarface drained of blood, at arm's length from the culture that spawned it. full review
November 2, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
It's a much better film than nine-tenths of what's out there on any given Friday, and if you're a fan of steak-and-potatoes crime drama, I highly recommend it. full review
November 2, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is an engrossing story, told smoothly and well, and Russell Crowe's contribution is enormous. full review
November 2, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
As an entertaining cops-and-crook procedural -- it's not half-bad, jacked up by strong performances, a couple of bravura action scenes and a generous attention to period detail. full review
November 1, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today
The movie, based on a true story, takes surprising twists and turns right up to its chilling ending and is probably the best gangster crime drama of the year. full review
November 1, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
As a piece of storytelling -- built on the foundation of a great story -- it's an epic that's been sliced and diced into so many little morsels that almost nothing in it has any weight. full review
October 31, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press
American Gangster's simultaneous celebration of crime, punishment and upward mobility should be titled Cry Capitalism. That's the code of the new Western. full review
October 18, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Call it the black Scarface or the Harlem Godfather or just one hell of an exciting movie, but the fact-based, 1970s-era American Gangster is already looking like a major awards contender. full review
Comments
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February 4, 2009(2007 Director: Ridley Scott) One of Denzel Washington's best performances......Almost missed this one...but that would have been a waste...liked this like I liked "16 Blocks" (Bruce Willis). Only Russell Crowe plays the down-on-his-luck cop with a "hunch."
Based on a true story (or so people are saying) Great cast. Who WASN'T in THIS movie? I might take notice of that if in charge of the next casting call!!
Even Armando Assante starred a key role as a mob boss. Great performances.
Kind of the story of ruin of a good man (Denzel Washington) raised with mob influences in the ghetto who succombed to profit at what cost?
Every criminal has their heyday and what a heyday he had! -
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April 19, 2008Of all the gangster movies this one comes 2nd Great...cause Scar Face was thee MOST.
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