``American Gangster'' A crime drama about an American gangster who fails to become an antihero.

A man who could not become an icon

In contrast to Frank Lucas, Richie Roberts, who can be called the conscience of this story, is also depicted with a lot of weight. That's why Ridley Scott cast the reliable Russell Crowe in this important role. Richie Roberts is a hero who does not succumb to the corruption that was rampant within the police force. The heart of the film is that such a hero hunts down American gangster Frank Lucas, and the highlight is the acting battle between Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington.

"American Gangster" (C) 2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

But if you watch this movie, you'll see that Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, is also trying to be charming. He seems like a smart guy, quick-witted, and able to get the job done. For example, Priest (Ron O'Neal), the main character of the movie " Superfly " (1972), which was also used in the title of the original work "The Return of Superfly", and Nino Brown (Wesley) of " New Jack City " Snipes) is trying to bring out the antihero charm of Tony Montana (Al Pacino) in Scarface (1983).

In the end, Priest slaps the corrupt detective and quits drug trafficking himself. Nino Brown was brutally murdered in the end. Tony Montana's loved one is killed, and he himself falls into disrepair. All three works had a moral, albeit in different ways. That's why these three characters are still loved as icons.

“Scarface” preview

However, it seems that this work did not have that part. The only scenes depicted are the slap of Frank Lucas' mother (Ruby Dee) and the scene where Richie Roberts' persistence is rewarded.

Thanks to the brilliant direction by Ridley Scott and the skillful actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, this gangster tale is one step closer to becoming a classic. Even an accomplished Academy Award-winning screenwriter couldn't rewrite Frank Lucas's heinous ending. Frank Lucas was a real person, which is why he never became an icon like Priest, Nino Brown, or Tony Montana.

Text: Anzureratto

Writes mainly for the magazine "Eiga Hiho" (Yosensha). His book ``Black Movie Guide'' (Small Publishing) is now on sale.

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"American Gangster"

Blu-ray: 1,886 yen + tax / DVD: 1,429 yen + tax

Publisher: NBCUniversal Entertainment

(C) 2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

*Information as of December 2019.

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