American Gangster is a 2007 American biographical crime film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. The film is loosely based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam war, before being detained by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts.
The film stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, with co-stars Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ruby Dee, Lymari Nadal, and Cuba Gooding Jr..
The film was produced by Universal Pictures and Imagine entertainment, and its budget was $100 million, while its box office was $266.5 million. The film received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Plot
The story follows Frank Lucas as he establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan by buying heroin directly from the source in Southeast Asia and importing the drugs into the United States using a unique method. His product is superior to what is currently available on the street, and his prices are lower. His alliance with the New York Mafia ensures his position.
Meanwhile, Richie Roberts, a dedicated and honest policeman, heads up a joint narcotics task force with the Federal government. The film depicts the confrontation between Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts, who is charged with bringing down the Harlem drug lord. The destinies of these two men become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on tOP.
Trailer
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Full Cast
- Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas
- Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Huey Lucas
- Josh Brolin as Detective Trupo
- Lymari Nadal as Eva
- Ted Levine as Lou Toback
- Roger Guenveur Smith as Nate
- John Hawkes as Freddie Spearman
- RZA as Moses Jones
- Yul Vazquez as Alfonso Abruzzo
- Malcolm Goodwin as Jimmy Zee
- Ruby Dee as Mama Lucas
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Doc
- Carla Gugino as Laurie Roberts
- Idris Elba as Tango
- Common as Turner Lucas
- Armand Assante as Dominic Cattano
- Jon Polito as Rossi
- Joe Morton as Charlie Williams
- Ritchie Coster as Joey Sadano
- Kevin Corrigan as Campizi
- Cuba Gooding Jr. as Nicky Barnes
The film also features many other actors in smaller roles and as extras.
Notable Challenges Faced
There were some notable challenges during the production of American Gangster. Initially, the film was supposed to be directed by Antoine Fuqua with Denzel Washington and Benicio del Toro playing the roles of Lucas and Roberts, respectively, but production was halted due to overbudget issues.
Later, when Ridley Scott took over as director, the film's budget rose to $100 million. The film's subject matter also made it difficult for Universal Pictures to recoup the amount spent on production, and they even canceled the production of the film at one point, citing time constraints and creative elements.
The film's production required 360 scenes in over 180 various locations, and during the filming in Thailand, Ridley Scott hired many extras, some of whom were actually involved with the real drug cartel run by Frank Lucas during the 1970s.
Additionally, Russell Crowe requested a recording of the real Richie Roberts to mimic his voice mannerisms as well. Despite these challenges, the film was completed and went on to receive positive reviews from critics and was nominated for two Academy Awards.
Visual Styles & Techniques
American Gangster directed by Ridley Scott has a visual style that is described as "slick" and "meticulous". The film's aesthetics are said to be hyper-aware and not hyper-real, with intertextual nods to other classic gangster films such as The Godfather and Serpico.
The film's director, Ridley Scott, speaks at length in the DVD commentary about the distinctive look he wanted to shape for American Gangster. The film's visual style is also said to be bigger than life, with slick technique driving the story forward with pace and style.
Overall, the film's visual style is described as being meticulously crafted and hyper-aware, with nods to classic gangster films, and a slick and stylish approach to storytelling.
Themes & Reception
American Gangster is a film that explores themes of power, corruption, and the American Dream. The film portrays the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, a gangster who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War, before being detained by a task force led by Newark Detective Richie Roberts.
The film also explores the relationship between Lucas and Roberts, who are both portrayed as complex characters with their own motivations and struggles. The film's themes are conveyed through its visual style, which is described as "slick" and "meticulous".
Settings
American Gangster was filmed on location in New York City, with over 180 different locations used throughout the five boroughs of the city. Some of the notable locations used in the film include Old Westbury Gardens in Long Island, which was used as the estate of Italian mobster Dominic Cattano.
The Tuck-it-Away Self-Storage facility on the southwest corner of 135th Street in Harlem was used as the location for the opening scene of the film. The film's setting is primarily in Harlem, Manhattan, where Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the district.
The film also features scenes in Thailand, where Lucas buys heroin directly from the source. Overall, American Gangster features a variety of locations that help to create a sense of place and atmosphere for the story.
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Steven Zaillian
Box Office Gross: 269,755,430
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama, Biography
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2007
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2015
