American Gangster

OK, this movie is big…it’s the über-dopemovie. It very effectively brings you (back) to early 70’s New York to follow the story of the black Tony Montana, Frank Lucas. With this difference; Frank Lucas is real, not a written character. This gives the movie an unnerving edge; it shows the dirt of that time, the drugs, the corruption, the money and power and by the end of the movie, although this chapter has ended, you feel (and know) that nothing really has changed and nothing ever will.

As a movie, American Gangster shoots for Scarface-greatness. However, it doesn’t quite get there, because we all saw Scarface (and Serpico, for that matter) and there is not much new here. The interwoven stories of the gangster and the cop chasing him also bring Heat to mind. So, no top 5 in the genre, but still there is a lot to like here and it is not to be missed.

Check the original story of Frank Lucas here: The Return of Superfly by Mark Jacobson