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AMERICAN GANGSTER (R)

Plot Summary: A New Jersey detective works to capture a 1970s drug lord.

Reason for the Rating: Violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.

Ah, the American dream.

What could be better than a young, poor boy from rural North Carolina going to New York City and making it big? Rich? He ends up with more money and influence than most of us can even imagine. It really does sound like a dream you’d like to come true - until you look at the reason the movie of this man's life is rated R…” violence, pervasive drug content…” not really a dream come true after all.

American Gangster tells the story of Frank Lucas (played by Denzel Washington), an infamous drug dealer in the early 1970s. Originally he was the driver and bodyguard for a black crime boss in New York City who taught him “the ropes” of underworld crime. When his mentor dies, Frank has to make his own way. Taking advantage of the Vietnam War and the pervasive drug usage in the inner city, he builds a drug empire in a way never done before.

Frank doesn’t go through the usual means of obtaining drugs, but goes directly to the source. Traveling to Southeast Asia, he cuts out the middle-man and has heroin shipped directly to him in the US, using military airplanes as his means of transportation. He then sells pure heroin, called “Blue Magic,” at a reduced rate on the streets of New York. As his product is more potent and cheaper, he essentially puts all other drug dealers out of business.

But, Frank doesn’t go unnoticed. Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is an honest cop in New Jersey, when being an honest cop isn’t very popular on the force. While fellow policemen scoff at his ethics, Ritchie becomes the head of the newly formed Bureau of Narcotics, and begins tracking down people like Frank Lucas. Frank does a good job of blending in, and stays out of the spotlight, until he attends the boxing match between Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali. Sitting in the front row, wearing a chinchilla coat, and schmoozing with Italian crime boss, Dominic Cattano (Armand Assante), Ritchie takes notice of Frank and begins tracking everything about his life – family, friends, lawyer, even when he attends church. Ritchie needs to find someone in a compromising position who will begin to talk and give up important information about Frank’s massive drug operation.

It’s fascinating to watch these two men who are seemingly so opposite, yet who each fail in significant ways. Frank Lucas is a man who murders without remorse, and who cashes in on the harmful addictions of others, yet he gives generously to the poor, is respectful of his mother, and attends church regularly. Ritchie Roberts is as honest a cop as they come, refuses to steal evidence money, and turns down a pretty nice bribe, yet is a womanizer and neglects his weekly visits with his young son. One is detrimental to society, while the other fights for justice. One is fiercely loyal to his family, while the other is careless. An interesting contrast in inconsistency of character.

There have been great gangster movies in the past, such as The Untouchables, The Godfather, and Scarface. So what’s so special about American Gangster? Obviously it has Oscar-winning actors and is directed by Ridley Scott. Those are enough to give the movie some notice. It also has a detailed screenplay written by the same man who wrote Gangs of New York, All the King’s Men, Schindler’s List, as well as some other equally well-known films. All together you have a movie that is packed with emotion, action, and depth. It’s a film that keeps you uncomfortable as it randomly intersperses montages of drug addicts shooting up. And it keeps you feeling astounded at the lengths some will go to take advantage of others. Like many movies before it, this one reminds us in no uncertain terms of the ugliness of sin, whether it’s a man who violently takes advantage of others or one who can’t seem to connect with the people who love him.

FAMILYFANS RECOMMENDS:

American Gangster is a movie you will want to see, but beware of the graphic images of drug usage, and, although not sexual in nature, there is quite a bit of nudity. Regardless, this is a movie worth seeing, as it will spark some great discussion about personal values, the effect of our actions on others, and the depravity of man.

AFTER THE SHOW:

• Toward the end of the movie, Frank’s mother tells him, “I didn’t ask where all this came from, because I didn’t want you to lie to me.” Do you think Frank’s life would have been different if his mother had been more involved in pursuing the truth?

• Frank Lucas is infamous as a former drug lord, and will always be remembered as such. How would you like others to remember you? What effect would you like to have on your world?

• Frank attends church weekly, but it doesn’t have any moral or spiritual effect on him. Why do you think his heart was so hardened to God and good?

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