American Gangster
BBB
(out of 5)
Small-time hood Denzel Washington loses his mentor and goes into business for himself, eventually making himself the top-drawer heroin kingpin in 1970s New York. Creating an empire that sees him shipping in high-quality product direct from Asia at prices lower than his competition, Washington eventually catches the attention of a Serpico-clean cop (Russell Crowe) who can’t be bribed. Ridley Scott’s attempt to enter the canon of great crime sagas is far from the likes of The Long Good Friday or GoodFellas; while he is a masterful image maker, with kudos especially going to cinematographer Harris Savides and production designer Arthur Max for creating the period with dazzling effect, the story is never particularly engaging. It’s never boring either, but the proceedings from criminal success to eventual police bust are observed from a distance and never draw the audience in to the emotional catharsis of watching the good guys win. The supporting cast is superb, easily covering up for the fact that Washington is phoning in his performance and that Crowe is trying too hard to sell his phony accent.
USA, 2007
Directed by Ridley Scott
Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, based on the article The Return Of Superfly by Mark Jacobson
Cinematography by Harris Savides
Produced by Brian Grazer, Ridley Scott
Music by Marc Streitenfeld
Production Design by Arthur Max
Costume Design by Janty Yates
Film Editing by Pietro Scalia
Cast Tags: Al Santos, Albert Jones, Andrea Edmead, Anthony Hamilton, Armand Assante, Arthur Mercante,Autavia Bailey, Bari K. Willerford, Bryant Pearson, Candyce Barnes, Carla Gugino, Carlos Sierra Lopez, Cedric Sanders, Celestine Rae, Chance Kelly, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris McKinney, Christopher A. Sawyer,Chuck Cooper, Cicily Daniels, Clinton Lowe, Common, Conor Romero, Cuba Gooding Jr., Dan Moran, Daniel Farcher, Daniel Hilt, David Spearman, David Wayne Britton, Dawn Douglas, Denzel Washington, Dylan Gallagher,Eddie Rouse, Eric Silver, Fab 5 Freddy, Fatima Robinson, Flavia Tamara Livolsi, Gavin Grazer, George Lee Miles,Hamilton Clancy, Idris Elba, J. Kyle Manzay, James Hunter, Janelle Cambridge, Jason Furlani, Jason Veasey, Jeff Greene, Jeff Mantel, Jehan-Pierre ‘The Preacher’ Vassau, Jim R. Coleman, Joe Morton,Joey Klein, John Hawkes, John Ortiz, Jon DeVries, Jon Polito, Jonah Denizard, Jonathan Medero, Josh Brolin,KaDee Strickland, Karen Adisson, Kathleen Garrett, Kesha Nichols, Kevin Corrigan, Kevin Geer, Kirt Harding, Krista Saab, Larry Mitchell, Latonya Tolbert, Laurence Lowry, Lee Shepard, Lil Chuuch, Linda Powell, Lonnie Gaetano,Luam Keflezgy, Luis Salgado, Lymari Nadal, Malcolm Goodwin, Marielys Molina, Marjorie Johnson, Maryann Urbano, Maurice Ballard, Melissia Hill, Mitchell Green, Monique Lea-Gall,Nefertiti Robinson, Neville White, Nino Del Buono, Norman Reedus, Ortos J. Gutierrez, Panama Redd, Paul Doherty, Pierra Francesca, Quisha Saunders, Ric Young, Ritchie Coster, Robbie Neigeborn, Robert C. Kirk, Robert Funaro, Robert Wiggins, Roger Bart, Roger Guenveur Smith, Ron Piretti,Roosevelt Davis, Roxanne Amandez, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Ruby Dee, Russell Crowe, RZA, Sam Freed, Sandra Park, Sarah Hudnut, Saycon Sengbloh, Scott Dillin, Serena Joan Springle, Shannon MacMillan, Skyler Fortgang,Steve McAuliff, T.I., Tamara Marrow, Ted Levine, Tom O’Rourke, Tom Stearns, Tommy Guiffre,Tyson Hall, Warner Miller, Wilhelm Lewis, William C. Tate, Yul Vazquez, Yuri Kamino-Fennell
Academy Award Nominations
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Ruby Dee as “Mama Lucas”)
Best Art Direction (art direction: Arthur Max; set decoration: Beth A. Rubino)
Golden Globe Award Nominations
Best Motion Picture-Drama
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama (Denzel Washington)
Best Director (Ridley Scott)
Screen Actors Guild Award
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Ruby Dee)
Nomination
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
British Academy Award Nominations
Best Film
Best Screenplay – Original
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
