Ridley Scott's 2007 biographical crime drama American Gangster will air on Film4 tonight at 9.10pm. The film, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, is loosely inspired by the criminal exploits of North Carolina gangster Frank Lucas.
Plot and cast
The narrative follows Lucas's sophisticated drug trafficking operation, which smuggled heroin into the United States aboard aircraft throughout the Vietnam War. While his actual story is widely recognised, the film transforms it into an epic dramatisation, though Lucas himself acknowledged that only small elements were accurate, with considerable portions invented for 'dramatic effect'.
Washington plays the central figure, opposite Crowe as Richie Roberts, who spearheaded the criminal enquiry into the trafficking operation. The film also features Josh Brolin, Idris Elba, Carla Gugino and Norman Reedus. Ruby Dee's portrayal of Lucas's mother earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Fan reception
One fan described the film as a "classic must-watch" they "definitely recommend" in a critique on Rotten Tomatoes. Another review said: "An underrated gangster flick, big time. It's directed perfectly, with the action scenes inducing anxiety, and is never dull."
Another viewer shared: "A film I expected nothing from, but it delivered everything. It's long and captivating from the first minute." A further review called it "a gritty gangster movie that harks back to 1970s flicks, when Hollywood glitz did not always invade a production."
Story and legacy
The narrative charts Lucas's rise as he purchases heroin directly from Thai suppliers and transports it into America via returning Vietnam War servicemen. He becomes Harlem's most powerful crime boss, establishing legitimate enterprises as cover while keeping a modest public presence, until law enforcement identifies and searches one of the final aircraft transporting his supply, leading to his arrest.
During his trial, he exposes corrupt police officers in exchange for a more lenient sentence, resulting in the conviction of three-quarters of the New York DEA alongside numerous NYPD officers. The film was nominated for twenty-one awards.
