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| American Gangster Extended Edition [2007] | ![American Gangster Extended Edition [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rX%2BhYJ%2BWL._SL160_.jpg)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 36 reviews)
Sales Rank: 223
Category: DVD
Actors: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin
Director: Ridley Scott
Publisher: Universal Pictures UK
Studio: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
Label: Universal Pictures UK
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), Hungarian (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Media: DVD
Running Time: 169 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050582550689
ASIN: B000YQ73H8
Release Date: March 10, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
A slow burning, yet entirely gripping, mobster film, American Gangster pits Denzel Washington's Frank Lucas against Russell Crowe's law enforcer Richie Roberts. Spread over a necessarily prolonged running time, their story is then brutally, expertly, told. And while American Gangster isn't in the league of prime Scorsese and Coppolla classics (such as Goodfellas and The Godfather), it's the nearest we've come in quite some time to something of that ilk. It's all based on a true story, which does mean you need to forgive it some of its obvious narrative conventions, yet this also lends it a gravitas that the film eagerly makes the most of. It's great too to see British director Ridley Scott tackling meatier material again. This is the man, after all, who gave us Blade Runner, Alien and Gladiator, and he duly delivers with American Gangster. His finest work it isn't, but an engrossing, explosive and hard-as-nails drama it absolutely is. What's more, American Gangster is powered by two of the finest leading man working in Hollywood right now, and it's terrific to see Washington and Crowe on top form here. And while in cinematic terms it's hardly a film that treads new ground, it's nonetheless a proper, grown-up and engrossing movie, and a very good one at that. --Jon Foster
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| Customer Reviews: Read 31 more reviews...
American Gangster May 6, 2008
There's nothing new about a film covering the lives of organised crime kingpins in New York, but this one does have an original take on the theme in that 'the don' in this case is not Italian American, but African American. Denzel Washington is excellent in the lead role as highly self-disciplined heroin dealer Frank Lucas whose late mentor taught him the benefits of cutting out the middle-man and doing all the buying, flying and distribution himself. It's only when he compromises on these disciplines and delegates key responsibilities to others less smart than he is that things start to fall apart. The story - based mainly on actual events - is told using the Vietnam war between 1968 and 1973 as a timeline, appropriate because Lucas literally depended on the continuation of the conflict to maintain his supply and transport. As soon as that threatened to come to an end, his unique 'brand' of Blue Magic heroin was in grave danger of ending alongside it, but before Lucas has time to worry about what to do next, the four-year mission of clean-as-a-whistle undercover narcotics agent Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) reaches a climax as he at last finds out how the dope is brought into the country and who is behind it. This concept has been covered before from a more political perspective by James Ellroy in THE COLD SIX THOUSAND, the first novel to open my eyes to the extraordinary influence of heroin in the US military during the Vietnam war; this film promised to be a kind of modernised Godfather but in reality the two can hardly be compared mainly because American Gangster is a kind of dramatised documentary which leaves you caring rather little for any particular character and while it makes for riveting viewing it doesn't really entertain in quite the same way as a work of fiction might otherwise have done. But what it is is a welcome dash of real quality film-making, story-telling and acting, not to mention excellent direction by Ridley Scott. For me this is probably the best film released in 2007 and it delivered the goods much better than THE DEPARTED did a couple of years earlier.
Haunting April 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What a stunning movie. I couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards and its one of those that has you flying to Wikipeia or whatever to find out how much of it is true and 'where they are now'. Highly recommended for a Saturday night in edge of your seat gangster thriller/bio with two great lead performances.
fantastic but.... April 9, 2008
this film was great.It delivered shock, violence and racial discrimination all in one package. The acting was sleek and the stars were rightfully cast, however the film dragged on and on and on and for me this led to major refusal of any more than four stars. I am a pretty attentive person when it comes to films and generally i will sit through anything that i think will be worth my time regardless of the type or 'genre.' This film was definately worth my time and i'm hapy to say i have finally watched it but if it had been shorter i'm sure it would have earnt its extra star.
Wow, this delivers April 8, 2008
A slow beginning, but a terrific film overall. Crowe excels and the supporting roles are perfectly cast. The only fly in the ointment was Washington, who for me at least, generally portrays good guys better than villains.
The plot (based on true events) has Richie Roberts, a rough and ready New Jersey prosecutor, pitted against Frank Lucas, an African-American gangster who outstripped the mob in the drug distribution business nearly 40 years ago. Added to the mix are a medley of corrupt drug squad police officers.
The acting is fairly convincing and the period pieces are created to perfection. It has even greater appeal for its sparse use of violence.
Highly recommended. Deserves an Oscar.
The Absence of Truth, Justice, and The American Way April 6, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
"The heart of America's obsession with success as a killer instinct. That's why the film's moral indignation with Frank can't match its fascination with his balls of steel. Superfly and Tony Montana are Hollywood fantasies. Frank is for real. As the real Frank said, "People like me. People like the fuck out of me." Maybe that's what's so scary." Peter Travers
In 1970, Frank Lucas, Denzel Washington, was the power king of the drug world in NYC. He had worked his way up from being a driver to the big boss. He changed the face of the drug business by cutting out the middle man and going to buy the drug himself. He set up his chain of command from Vietnam to the US and the drugs came home in the caskets of our dead soldiers.
Ritchie Roberts, Russell Crow, on the other hand was a cop on the beat. He was earning his law degree while working full time. He was so busy with his work as an honest cop he had no time for his family. He cornered almost a million dollars on one drug raid and gave it up to the authorities. This made him a pariah within his group- give it back, unheard of!
Frank in the meantime involved his entire family in his business, brought them up from North Carolina, set them all up in business. One of his enemies, a bad cop, played by Josh Brolin, shows us the epitome of hungry cop who will stop at nothing to make money. Frank too got too hungry and was noted by Ritchie Roberts and brought down. Finally the two meet, and
Frank gives up all the bad cops with Ritchie's assistance and gets a much reduced jail sentence.
Denzel Washington steals the movie- he is suave, mean, brutal and real at all times. we believe that he believes he is living the American dream, built upon the money from drugs. Russell Crowe is very good, as he always is, he is low key and forceful and becomes a lawyer without fanfare. But, he is also a man who does not mix his ideals. He is honest, direct and has a goal to rid NYC of the drug lords and the bad cops.
"So this is a gangster movie focused on character rather than action and on the intricacies of people's backgrounds, strategies and motivations. Whether it means to, the film plays off a clutch of old movies, from "The Godfather" and "Serpico" to "Superfly" and "Shaft." But Scott and writer Steven Zaillian make certain their Old Gangster is original and true to himself and his times rather than a concoction of movie fiction. Consequently, the movie is smooth and smart enough to attract a significant audience beyond the considerable fan base of its stars, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe." Kirk Honeycutt
A movie of good and evil and we know how this will end.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 04-06-08
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