RIDLEY SCOTT

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.  USA, 2007.  Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Relativity Media, Scott Free Productions, WR Universal Group.  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.  Academy Awards 2007.  Golden Globe Awards 2007.

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.