American Gangster

WHEN it comes to a memorable movie experiece, you know you are in safe hands with Ridley Scott.
And with American Gangster, the versatile director has once again proven that there is no genre that he cannot master.
His early career saw him tackle the realm of science fiction with Alien and Blade Runner and when the 21st century kicked in, his interest seemed to sway towards historical epics with Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.
Now the cigar toting director has set about conquering the world of gangster movies.
Set in the 1970s, American Gangster is the true - albeit sensationalised - story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), the driver of a leading black crime boss.
When his boss suddenly dies, Frank sees a void in the power structure that he quickly fills.
Not long after, the streets are flooded with high quality drugs that Frank has sourced directly from the Far East during the Vietnam War.
Meanwhile, Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an outcast cop who loses the support of his corrupt department for playing by the rules.
Working on opposite sides of the law - each with their own ethical code - their worlds soon collide and only one man can come out on top.
If you’re looking for a violent gangster film, this isn’t it. There are some particularly grisly scenes but these are intertwined with some hefty characterisation.
With American Gangster you have to be patient - it slowly reveals its charms over its lengthy screen time.