American Gangster (film)

American Gangster (film)
Name	American Gangster
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Ridley Scott
Producer	Brian Grazer, Ridley Scott
Screenplay	Steven Zaillian
Based on	"The Return of Superfly", Mark Jacobson
Starring	Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe
Music	Marc Streitenfeld
Cinematography	Harris Savides
Editing	Pietro Scalia
Studio	Scott Free Productions, Imagine Entertainment
Distributor	Universal Pictures
Released	2007, 10, 19, New York City, 2007, 11, 2, United States
Runtime	157 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$100 million
Gross	$269.8 million

American Gangster (film) is a 2007 American biographical crime film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. The film stars Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a real-life Harlem drug lord who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War, and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, the honest New Jersey detective who works to bring him down. A critical and commercial success, the film explores themes of the American Dream, corruption, and the War on Drugs during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Plot

The narrative intercuts between the rise of Frank Lucas, who seizes control of Harlem's drug trade after the death of his mentor Bumpy Johnson, and the professional and personal struggles of detective Richie Roberts, a famously incorruptible Essex County narcotics officer. Lucas revolutionizes the heroin market by sourcing pure product directly from Southeast Asia via the United States Air Force transport planes used in Operation Rolling Thunder, branding it "Blue Magic." His empire brings immense wealth and attracts the attention of Roberts's task force, which includes agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation culminates in a dramatic series of raids across New York City, leading to Lucas's arrest and his subsequent decision to cooperate with Roberts, providing evidence that implicates numerous corrupt police officers.

Cast

* Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas * Russell Crowe as Detective Richie Roberts * Chiwetel Ejiofor as Huey Lucas * Josh Brolin as Detective Nick 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 Detective Javier J. Rivera * Malcolm Goodwin as Jimmy Zee * Ruby Dee as Mama Lucas * Cuba Gooding Jr. as Nicky Barnes * Armand Assante as Dominic Cattano * Carla Gugino as Laurie Roberts * John Ortiz as Jose Martinez * KaDee Strickland as Richie's Attorney

Production

Development began in 2000, with Antoine Fuqua initially attached to direct and Benicio del Toro slated to star. After that iteration fell apart, the project was revived by producers Brian Grazer and Ridley Scott, with Steven Zaillian rewriting the script. Principal photography took place in 2006 on location in New York City, including Harlem and Washington Heights, as well as in Thailand and Westchester County. The production faced challenges, including securing the participation of Denzel Washington and navigating the complex historical details of the French Connection case era. The film's budget was approximately $100 million.

Release

American Gangster had its world premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on October 19, 2007. It was given a wide theatrical release in the United States by Universal Pictures on November 2, 2007. The film was later released in various international markets throughout November and December. A director's cut was released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2008, adding approximately 18 minutes of footage.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, the direction by Ridley Scott, and the screenplay by Steven Zaillian. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Ruby Dee and Best Art Direction. It also garnered nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and several Screen Actors Guild Awards. Commercially, it was a major success, grossing over $269 million worldwide against its $100 million budget.

Historical accuracy

While based on real events and figures, the film takes significant dramatic license. The real Frank Lucas did operate in Harlem and used military aircraft to smuggle heroin, but the portrayal of his relationship with his family and the timeline of events is condensed and fictionalized. The character of Richie Roberts is a composite, though the real Roberts was a key investigator. The film exaggerates the direct confrontation between Lucas and Roberts and omits or alters details about other key figures like Nicky Barnes and the involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency. Several law enforcement officials involved in the case have publicly questioned aspects of the film's depiction.

Category:2007 films Category:American biographical crime films Category:Films directed by Ridley Scott Category:Universal Pictures films