American Gangster

Nov 16 2007 Evening Chronicle

DURING decades of social, economic and racial turmoil, the world’s greatest superpower has consistently lost one battle: To purge its streets of drugs.

In 1971 President Nixon declared: “America’s public enemy No 1 is drugs.”

At the time it was estimated that a third of American troops fighting in Vietnam were using heroin and opium.

American Gangster recounts the true story of the rise and fall of Frank Lucas (Washington), who created a drugs empire in ’70s New York.

Aided and abetted by his five brothers, Frank flooded Harlem with cheap, high-grade product emblazoned with the Blue Magic logo. Raking in more than a million dollars a day, Frank smuggled his wares into the country in the coffins of dead servicemen.

Ridley’s Scott’s bloated thriller pits the real-life organised crime boss against a New Jersey cop, Detective Richie Roberts (Crowe), determined to clean up the streets and root out corrupt elements in his own narcotics division.

It makes riveting cinema but like the evil drug that Frank peddles, the emotional high wears off too quickly.

Director Scott excels during scenes of conflict and violence. The climactic swoop on Frank’s drug operation is brilliantly-orchestrated mayhem.

The 156-minute running tests our patience and performances lack pizzazz. Washington remains placid for much of the film, his kingpin refusing to show any feelings as Richie and the team edge closer to an arrest.

When he does crack, someone invariably gets singed by the heat of his rage. “I ain’t running from nobody,” sneers Frank to one of his minions.

Even in a police interrogation room, the evidence weighted against him, Frank cockily boasts: “I took care of Harlem and Harlem’s gonna take care of me.”

Crowe brings quiet dignity to his lawmaker, who prizes honesty above everything else, and cheekily quips: “You know what we do here? We arrest bad guys.”

Frank and Richie are fascinating enigmas until the bitter end.

(18, 156 mins) Thriller/Drama. Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr, Josh Brolin, Rza, John Ortiz, John Hawkes, Ted Levine, Clarence Williams III. Director: Ridley Scott.

SWEARING; SEX; VIOLENCE