American Gangster Reviews

Overall

4.38 of 5 (by 69 users)

American Gangster Review Summary

American Gangster will "shake your core with its amazing story. " Denzel Washington is at his usual as he was in Remember the Titans. While they're both based on true stories, they are completely different characters. In American Gangster, Denzel stars as a man coming up in the world through the distribution of drugs, although no pre-knowledge of this story is necessary to enjoy what will soon be another Denzel classic. The talent doesn't stop here, as Russell Crow and Josh Broil pull in credible performances as well, as does director Ridley Scott. A few Viewpoints moviegoers found the 2-1/2 hour length of American Gangster too much, as well as the graphic violence and nudity, finding it somewhat gratuitous. Others found all this necessary for showing "the ugly reality that is the mafia."

	52%
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91%

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Most Helpful
Favorable Review

I can't think of any reason not to give this 5 stars!

MAR

2008

We rented American Gangster mostly because my husband wanted to see it. I was afraid it would be real bloody. I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of blood and guts in this movie! There was some, but very little of it.

The plot is actually quite simple. Frank Lucas grew up learning the gangster...

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thrilled by thrillers, a movie lover

vivasuzi
Livonia, MI

Most Helpful
Critical Review

Great premise for a movie.

DEC

2007

I saw "American Gangster" at the recommendation of several friends. I like movies that are about true life stories (such as Catch Me If You Can). The story was based on an interesting premise and that part of it was enjoyable. However, I didn't care for the numerous shots of naked women making... review »

into movies that tell a great story, a woman

whynot2000
Novi, MI

American Gangster Ratings and Reviews

items/page: 15 | 30 | 50 displaying 1 to 13 of 69 sort by: most helpful | date | rating

helpful
votes

War against one of the big drug kingpins of the 60s

DVD collector, Movie guru, Fan of Superb Productions, admirer of great storytelling, Film noir guru, cult film connoisseur

JUN

2008

American Gangster (2007)

This is another great film by Ridley Scott who continues to prove (to me, at least) he is the greatest working director and the only one who will be remembered fifty years from now when the short list of great directors like Ford, Huston, Welles, and Hitchcock are discussed.

American Gangster tells the story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) who begins as a driver for Harlem kingpin Bumpy Jenkins (Clarence Williams, III) and replaces him when Bumpy dies suddenly. Rather than continuing with the numbers game as Bumpy had, Lucas decides to call in a favor from a buddy off... review »

read 10 comments

GeorgeChabot
Conyers, GA

helpful
votes

Great action, excellent casting.

into movies that tell a great story, into action flicks, character-lover

NOV

2007

I saw the previous film which featured both Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, "Virtuosity", and I really enjoyed it (apparently I was one of the few). I was very curious about a movie in which the roles were reversed, with Denzel playing the bad guy and Crowe playing the good guy.

One of the first things one notices in "American Gangster" is that, based on a true story, the lines between the good guys and the bad guys are realistically blurred.

I thought the casting of supporting roles was especially good in "American Gangster". Ruby Dee is a very complex "Mama". Armand Assante and Joe Morton...

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read 1 comment

SMullenSea
Seattle, WA

helpful
votes

A solid Gangster movie but could have been done in 2 hours

first in line on opening weekend

JAN

2008

Who doesnt like Denzel? He was great in the movie -- awesome character development-- but the movie was a little long for my taste. Oh, and I love the fact that American Gangster was based on a true story....

read 3 comments

Jolie
Chicago, IL

helpful
vote

Great cast. Great movie. Based on a true story too!

waiting for the DVD, into action flicks, loving this product

APR

2008

I am happy to say American Gangster was everything I hoped it would be, and then some. What an awesome movie. I didn't even realize to the end that it was based on a true story. That just makes it more enjoyable to me.

Denzel Washington is AMAZING as Frank Lucas, the "bad guy" in the movie. Although for being a bad guy, I really like his character a lot. Frank Lucas became the LARGEST smuggler of Heroin during the Vietnam War, using military planes to smuggle it into America. I'm telling you, I love it when an actor can pull off the bad guy role just as well as he does the good guy role. ...

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jasyjen
Jacksonville, NC

helpful
vote

Another good Denzel flick

an infrequent movie goer, waiting for the DVD

APR

2008

The movie was good. I enjoy movies based on true stories, even though we all know that they may write a lot more than the truth into the movie script. Denzel Washington did an excellent job in this role. As the movie progressed, you get the feeling that all this really could have happened. None of it was so far out there that it was unbelievable.

My only complaint is that the movie was so very long!!!!! We watch a DVD with dinner each afternoon, and this one lasted a full week. It was interesting, but it was way too long.

If you like gangster movies, you will enjoy it.

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viewkgr
Boca Raton, FL

helpful
vote

One of 2007's Best Pictures

movie lover, pc-user, Internet User

FEB

2008

American Gangster was one of 2007's best pictures. It should have been nominated for best picture, and Denzel Washington should be nominated for best actor.

read 1 comment

wellow
Chicago, IL

helpful
vote

Excellent Movie with Bad and Uninformative Ending!

into movies that tell a great story, character-lover, Movie guru, first in line on opening weekend, movie connoisseur

NOV

2007

This was a great movie that we are sure to buy on DVD as soon as released.

However, the ending was very disappointing as if you do your research, you know that quite a few of these people are still living especially the main character. My Date knew all about him and really wanted to see the Movie to see what became of him in the end. But that's just it, that is the end, as far as the Movie goes but we were left with the same unanswered questions as before we saw the Movie.

When something that serious occurs that is fact, far from fiction, you really feel you want to know it all and the Movie DOES...

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keekee7590
Accokeek, MD

helpful
vote

Better than Virtuosity

Every day computer user, Anime Geek, horror fan, gangster movie fan

NOV

2007

While this movie is very long and over two and a half hours, it does not seem to drag. Both Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington turn in fine performances as the protagonists. Among the supporting cast, Josh Brolin stands out as an exceptionally slimy New York cop on the take. His performance was so delightfully distasteful that I found myself cheering for both Crowe's righteous cop and Washington's sadistic criminal to give him his just desserts. However, his comeuppance was a little too formulaic (a la Shawshank Redemption) for me.

read 1 comment

mlhall
Chicago, IL

helpful
vote

I loved it!

into movies that tell a great story, a frequent film-goer, action fan, gangster movie fan, into action flicks

DEC

2007

Wow! Need I say more?! Well I have to because then i wouldn't be able to enter this review :). Well, this movie is exactly what I like. I really love watching Denzel Washington. In my opinion, every movie that has Denzel is good. Once I hear he's in it, I know it'll be great before it even comes out. You should go out and watch it if you haven't and if you like gangster type movies.

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pinaysunrise
Casselberry, FL

helpful
vote

great movie!!!!!

a comedy fan

APR

2008

I love Denzel Washington and he is amazing in this movie!! I think he is a marvelous actor. Even though this movie might be a little too violent for me, the story was absolutly great and all I could say is that I would watch it again.

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panndita
Norman, OK

a good story well told, and there's a lot to like in that

into movies that tell a great story, action fan, DVD collector, Movie guru, psychotronic genius

NOV

2007

There are no new tricks in American Gangster. It's an old fashioned sort of cops and crime movie that tells the story of the rise of a crime boss concurrently with that of the lawman who is determined to arrest him. Hollywood has been making gangster movies with similar plots since the early 1930s. It's just a good story well told, and there's a lot to like in that.

Denzel Washington portrays real criminal Frank Lucas, former driver for Harlem crime lord Ellesworth "Bumpy" Johnson (Clarence Williams III). When his mentor dies in 1968, Lucas sees Harlem plummet into chaos, as greedy criminals fight...

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gamera23
Chicago, IL

Great acting, but a little slow in places

Every day computer user, into action flicks, a comedy fan

MAR

2008

Denzel is a great actor, and as much as I hate Russel Crowe, he does a good job too.

I like how the movie has you constantly rooting for the underdog... and then for the good guys... and then back again. A great picture, based on a true story.

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a100indecisions
Brookfield, IL

No Oscar-contender, but a very good movie nonetheless.

very picky about kids films, a fan of clever plots, Mother of 2, television buff, gangster movie fan, character-lover, DVD collector, Lover of quirky, unique films

NOV

2007

American Gangster is such an engaging drama that I hardly noticed its 2.5
hour length. It's a good-paced and well-acted movie. It's no Oscar contender, but it
is a good film. Denzel Washington's portrayl of uber-gangster Frank Lucas was
well-played and subtly acted. In some scenes, it could have been easy for him
to go over-the-top like Al Pacino in Scarface. Russell Crowe's was great as the
scrappy New Jersey cop trying to bring down Harlem's drug kingpin. Russell's
performance was also surprisingly low-key. It also made me re-realize how sexy
Russell Crowe compared to the other pretty-boy leading men. ...

review »

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mrswhite072895
Brooklyn, NY

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Movie Title	American Gangster
Format Type	DVD
Film Genre	Action & Adventure Crime Drama
MPAA Rating	R
Tags	Denzel Washington Hold On I'm Comin' Russell Crowe
Key Information	Directors Ridley Scott Stars Denzel Washington Actors John Hawkes Genre Dramas Subgenre True Story • 1960s • Cops • 1970s • Crime • Drug Dealers MPAA Rating Unrated Available Formats DVD: 2-Disc Set UPC 025195055703 Release Date 2007 Running Time 2hr 38min
Languages	Original Language English
DVD Editions	DVD Editions DVD: 2-Disc SetUniversal Studios Home VideoFebruary 19, 2008Unrated025193228024
Credits	Screenwriter Steven Zallian
Professional Reviews	Professional Reviews (12/01/2007, p.134, Michael Bonner): 4 stars out of 5 -- "Crowe and Washington are extremely charismatic here; particularly...

American Gangster

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