"They look at me like it's Christmas, and I'm Santa Claus."
Added 9/16/2009
This is yet another ultimate movie from Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington, and Russell Crowe. This is not just a gangster flick, but, like The Godfather & Heat, is also a psychological drama. It tells the story of Frank Lucas, an African-American man who becomes a #1 drug importer in 60's Harlem. Richie Roberts is the cop who's willing to bring Lucas and his tainted business down. Seems like a simple story, but the film itself is far more complex. There is more story than action (not to say it is bad, but it really stands out with other awe-inspiring motion pictures). Ridley Scott simply knows how to make a great film, and this is one of his greatest. The performances here are also memorable. Washington, Crowe, Brolin, Gooding Jr., Nadal, Dee, Common, and T.I. give their roles their all, and they do it almost flawlessly. I'm surprised Washington wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. And the costumes and sets are just ravishing! It really feels like you're back in the late 60's, where you're anticipating the most intense boxing night in history.
It's not as great as other gangster/cop flicks, but it's great on its own level. Grade: A
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dull most of the time
Added 7/20/2009
I didn't find a whole lot to like about this movie to be completely honest. American Gangster had a pace that was only sometimes interesting probably because there wasn't enough action segments to keep me satisfied- just spoken bits that were never really memorable, and every time Russell Crowe spoke in his character role the quality of the storytelling felt like it slipped a little. It's like the movie kept tricking you into thinking it would become more interesting with every new segment but never delivered.
I realize most people who've watched American Gangster really respect it, but I can't bring myself to call this film a classic or anything- just barely good enough to keep a story flowing, and nothing more.
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Not Factual
Added 6/29/2009
The acting was great the story was based on actual historical figures unfortunately the movie is very misleading.
Frank Lucas was not a major part of the criminal activities in the African-American communities of New York City. His activities was confined to a very small area. Whereas Nick Barnes and his associates were all over the city. They were the main drug dealers during those days. There is a documentary on DVD called 'Mr. Untouchable about Nicky Barnes and his crew. On this DVD there is a recent recorded conversation between Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes, where Frank Lucas says that Nicky was 'the man', You can tell by the tone of the conversation who was the real boss of the crime world in the African American community. This movie (American Gangster) showed Nicky Barnes (played by Cuba Goodings Jr) in a very negative way. The truth was that Nicky Barnes was more like the way that Denzel Washington portrayed Frank Lucas and the way Cuba Goodings Jr acted was more like the way Frank Lucas behaved. Also in Bumpy Johnson's widow's book (Harlem Godfather), she said that Frank Lucas was never close to Bumpy Johnson. If you would like to know the truth about the gangster life in the 'black' community of New York city from the 1920s until the late 1970 read 'Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson a fascinating account of the war with 'Dutch Shultz' and also about the people of Harlem during the early 1900s until the 1960s by Mayme Hatcher Johnson. Also the book Mr Untouchable: The Rise and Fall of the Black Godfatherby Nicky Barnes. Also see the DVD called 'Mr. Untouchable.
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Another Gangster Movie Greats
Added 6/16/2009
I love Russle Crowe and Denzel Washington together they make an awesome impact in this great Ganster Movie, and on blue ray its just outstanding to view and make a part of your great movie collection
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Dynamic true story
Added 5/24/2009
At first, because it was rated R, I wasn't going to see it, but because it was based on a true story, I thought I'd try it. The opening scene almost made me shut it off, but I hung in there since I enjoy Denzel Washington and Russell Crow (very convincing performances). I was not dissappointed. What struck me was the contrast in the two main characters - Frank Lucas (Denzel), the suave drug dealer/businssman and Det. Richie Roberts (Russell), the humble, extremely honest cop. I grew up in NY during this time and vaguely remember hearing about that. It's a good drama, the era of the late 60s - early 70s was recreated perfectly.
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Great Movie
Added 10/3/2009
Showed this to a high school debate class. It really got the kids fired up about the passion the characters had for the art of debating. Another great acting role for Denzil Washington. I give this movie 5 stars for great entertainment.
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Multi-Layered- More Than Your Average Inspriational Movie
Added 8/17/2009
I love me some Denzel. Have for quite sometime now. I generally catch every one of his movies at some point- and that's saying something as prolific an actor he is. But I've learned one thing about me and Denzel. I don't like him as a bad guy. I wanted to cry after watching the movie Training Day. Lately he's been playing far too many of these anti-hero type roles.
So when I saw The Great Debaters being hyped by Oprah- she produced it and he directed it- I was more than pleased. FINALLY another Denzel movie I can't wait to watch, despite the fact I just knew it was going to be yet another underdog-succeeds-with -inspiration- from- teacher- despite-everyone's-expections-otherwise-Huzzah-For-Our-Team, feel good kinda movie.
Of course it was just that and, did I mention, OPRAH PRODUCED IT?
But it was also much, much more.
The story starts out with some seemingly incongruous shots that make you question what exactly you're seeing. But it all blends together so perfectly, cinematogrophly we get a tiny snapshot of the Black experience of the 1930's all within the first five minutes.
It's here we meet for the first time several of our protagonists. One being Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) an all Black College professor who has just run through the woods, seemingly for his life. We also meet two students, one in church, the other at a gin joint, who will soon make up part of the debate team Tolson leads at Wiley College.
The other two are chosen from a tryout held at Tolson's house, and one just happens to be a, *gasp*, woman!
Tolson meets Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), a beautiful young man who has a penchant for reading- and getting into trouble, outside a that gin joint I mentioned earlier, deep in the woods. After saving him from a grave mistake, Tolson immediately recognizes someing raw in Lowe and recruits him. He also picks the young man we saw sitting in church, James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker- hmmm wonder who he's named after??,) whose father is played by another Oscar winner, Forest Whitaker- no relation as far as I can tell.
James Jr. is the youngest on the team- heck he's the youngest at Wiley College too. He's only fourteen, but oh does he have heart. He's also the one who quietly steals the movie right out from under those Oscar winners' feet!
Add to that the young lady and one young man from last year's team and Tolson's set to lead them to victory.
The crux of the movie is indeed the underdog theme I mentioned earlier. (Once the team gets started, they make win after win until invitations to debate far outside their regular sphere start rolling in.)
But what makes this movie good are a couple more layers I wasn't expecting.
They're living in Texas. In 1935. Jim Crow anyone? We watch as each character deals with life in that kind of afflicting atmosphere and I was amazed at how well these incidents were artfully woven into the tale and how it shaped them all- as well as the story!
Tolson, is not exactly all he seems, hence the running through the woods. But neither are any of the characters here either. There are so many moving moments in this film, I can't begin to recount them all. Some very uplifting, others- textured with something much deeper. Suffice to say the team does make it beyond Marshell Texas- to Harvard even!- and the journey there probably taught them more than the destination.
Really recommend this movie if your in the mood for something inspirational AND sobering. Be prepared to hear some over-reaching preaching, and the hammering home of this one fact, to quote a quoted line in the film, "An unjust law is no law at all."
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Rent it. Buy it.
Added 7/21/2009
The Great Debaters is a fine film and I recommend it. It has fiber, moral fiber, and lots of it. The Amazon review contains the structure of the movie. And I don't have anything original to say except that I think you should get it, watch it, and let the film's magic unfold in front of you. You won't be disappointed.
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