American Gangster
Overview
American Gangster is a 2007 biographical crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the true story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a Harlem drug lord who smuggled heroin into the United States in the coffins of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War. The film also stars Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, a honest, dedicated police detective who is determined to bring Lucas down. The film follows Lucas's rise from a driver for a mob boss to the most powerful drug dealer in New York City. He cuts out the middlemen, buying his heroin directly from the source in Southeast Asia. He sells a purer, cheaper product, and he builds a massive empire. The film also follows Roberts, who is a outcast in the police department because of his honesty. He is assigned to a special task force to investigate Lucas. American Gangster was a critical and commercial success, earning over $266 million on a $100 million budget. It was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress for Ruby Dee. The film is a sprawling, epic crime drama that explores the themes of ambition, corruption, and the American Dream. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe give powerful performances as two men on opposite sides of the law.
