So you may have noticed that I haven’t been around for the last few weeks, or maybe you haven’t noticed at all and wonder what the hell I’m talking about. Well, I’ve been out of action for a while now due to some personal issues that actually put me in the hospital for a while, but thankfully I’m almost back to full strength and frankly, I’ve needed to get back into the swing of things with this column.
I am pissed because I was deep into my Horror movie rotation when I got sick, so I missed out on all my annual Halloween columns, but I guess there’s always next year. Besides, despite the summer drought that saw franchise after franchise seemingly die a slow death, 2007 has had some pretty kickass movies, and it looks like the fall season is going to have a pretty steady flow of bad ass cinema. The post-summer season has already given us Eastern Promises, Shoot’em Up and one of my personal favorites of the year, 3:10 to Yuma. Heck, I even saw The Nightmare before Christmas in 3-D which was awesome to see on the big screen in that format.
With There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, Beowulf, Sweeney Todd, I Am Legend, and even The Mist on the horizon, 2007 looks to be shaping up nicely. Seeing as how I’ve been out of commission for a while, I’m even getting to play a bit of catch-up, as I’m hoping to get to see The Assassination of Jesse James and Michael Clayton while they’re still playing around here. If half of these movies end up as good as I hope they are, it’ll end up a satisfying end to the movie year.
On top of all that, the first movie I saw after getting out of the hospital was as awesome as it’s looked over the last few months of buildup. With terrific stars and performances and one of my favorite directors of all time, American Gangster is a movie that’s going to hang around for a while and one I hope garners Oscar considerations. One thing’s for sure, American Gangster is “Grade A” bad ass cinema and one of the best films of 2007.
American Gangster Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Directed by Ridley Scott
When it comes down to it, there are really only a few directors that I go out of my way to catch everything that they try to put out. People that know me know that I’m probably never going to miss a Spielberg or Scorsese picture in the theater for the rest of my life. I don’t care what those guys are putting out or possibly how bad their movies look; I’m probably going to go see it. I love what Michael Mann is doing right now, and I still have a soft spot for John Woo, even though it’s been a while since he put out a great film. The same goes double for Dario Argento, though I’ve got hopes for his new picture. Of my favorite living directors, that leaves Ridley Scott.
It’s my personal opinion that Ridley Scott is an under appreciated visionary. Sure, Alien is a celebrated classic of the 1970’s, but his output in the 80’s, when he seemed to be unable to catch a break with critics or audiences, now seems brilliant compared to most film makers of the era. Thankfully, the last decade has finally seemed to launch Blade Runner into prominence. Through studio interference, taking the film out of Scott’s hands, and not meeting audiences’ expectations as to what a Harrison Sci-Fi adventure should be, Blade Runner was an unmitigated failure upon its initial release in 1982. 25 years later though, the movie has gone through several changes, and just received its place in the American Film Institute’s Top 100 films of all time.
Looking over the director’s work, film’s such as Black Rain and others went unappreciated, but looking at them now, Scott’s filmography is as strong as nearly anyone’s throughout that same period. Then in 2000, things finally changed for the director. With the release of Gladiator, Scott had his first hit since Alien, and he’s been off to the races ever since. Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven: The Director’s Cut, and Matchstick Men all represent either critical or popular hits for a director that struggled to find his way for the longest time.
With the release of American Gangster Ridley Scott seems to have raised his level of film making even further. Here is the director’s first true Crime Saga, the story of Frank Lucas, a man who rose from just being a driver and a hood to being one of the most powerful drug lords in New York City. On top of that, American Gangster is also a tremendous Police Procedural Drama, as we see the progression of Jersey Cop Richie Roberts, assigned to a special task force to stop the drug trade in his area, eventually bringing him head to head with Lucas.
Scott constructs each half of the film with equal zest, as you can feel the energy as each lead takes the screen. While the director goes into so much detail about each story, you never feel weighed down; even if the film takes its time to build up the tension and conflict between these two characters. We get to know each of these characters intimately and because of that, we’re involved emotionally in what’s going on when the final conflicts start to take place. What I love is that Scott is able to create a situation where you don’t necessarily root for one man over the other in the end, because you really feel something for each of them.
The reason that Frank Lucas appeals to us is nearly solely due to Denzel Washington. This is a performance so charismatic that we can’t help but fall for Lucas, just like everyone else in the film does. For instance, we like Lucas because he’s a man of determination and integrity. Lucas takes care of the people around him and also tries to help the people in need in his community. We see him handing out turkeys to everyone, just as his predecessor and mentor, gang boss Bumpy Johnson (Clarence Williams III) did.
We stay with Lucas, even though we see just how ruthless and dangerous he can be. To begin with, Lucas became so powerful because he offered the best drugs at the lowest price. Frank is shown going to Southeast Asia during the Viet Nam War in order to secure the drugs he’ll need for his trade, cutting out any middle men and going straight to the source, causing a windfall of cash while the war still raged. Thing is, while Lucas prospered, many in the streets died from overdosing on his product because of its purity. The movie isn’t afraid to show this, either, as we see parents die in front of their children as Frank lives the good life.
As I said before though, we still stay with Lucas, as other gangs try to take him out and even the police start to tighten their grip. This is also despite his sociopathic tendencies. The first time we even see Lucas on screen, he lights a man on fire and then shoots him. Later, he shoots a man in broad daylight, and even beats a man nearly to death with a piano. While these are all exhilarating sequences to behold, it also shows just what kind of a man Frank Lucas was, and without a star with the charisma of a Denzel Washington, he would be an out and out villain. As it is, Washington is nearly unstoppable in this role, as we seem to care for his well being and hope for his survival. The actor really sinks his teeth into the role and we totally go with him.
For Russell Crowe, the job of selling his character is a bit harder. Much like Frank Serpico, Richie Roberts was an honest cop to the point that it made him a pariah to the rest of his colleagues. He can’t be trusted because he’s too much of a boyscout, even turning in a million dollars instead of getting rich and solving all his problems. The dedication in his professional life doesn’t extend to his family though. Roberts is hated by his wife, as his job keeps him from being home most of the time, and on top of that he’s a horrible womanizer.
Yet, once again both director and star take major steps to make Roberts likable. A lot of time is spent showing what a dutiful cop Roberts is. He is constantly on the job, never letting up in his pursuit of his particular assignments, even putting his life in danger by crossing paths with Josh Brolin’s NYPD Detective Trupo, one of the dirtiest cops I’ve ever seen on screen. It’s this perseverance that makes Roberts as likable as he is. We know he has ethics that are beyond the call of duty, which is what it takes to be able to take down a man like Frank Lucas, and even other cops that feel they’re above the law.
For Crowe, this is another masterful performance. One of the things I really love about him playing Richie Roberts is while Washington gets the “Movie Star” role, much like Crowe got earlier this year in 3:10 to Yuma, the former Oscar winner really gets to show off his acting chops here. Roberts isn’t a very glamorous role. He walks with a little shuffle. When other cops threaten him, he backs off without a word. This isn’t the Russell Crowe we usually see, and yet with his ugly jacket and big sunglasses, we totally buy him here.
Then again, with Ridley Scott behind the camera, we nearly buy everything. Scott and Cinematographer Harris Savides recreated the 1970’s with scary accuracy. Much like David Fincher did with Zodiac earlier this year, its as if this movie were simply made IN the 70’s and not just about it. This isn’t just music and hairstyles, American Gangster creates this world as if you were watching a documentary, only with Oscar worthy performances and direction. Everything you look at from the buildings to the people just looks 100% genuine, and you really can’t ask for more than that in a period piece.
Scott is methodical in the way he approaches this film too. Never getting in too much of a hurry to tell this story, instead letting it unfold slowly, but never letting this film get boring either. By balancing the excellent Gangster epic portions of this picture with the almost French Connection-like excitement of Crowe’s scenes we never feel as if the movie is just resting on its laurels.
Scott doesn’t even rely on heavy action to make this film work. Much like Michael Manns Heat, American Gangster seems to hold back a bit on its violence. That’s not to say that it isn’t exciting when the shots are flying, as the big Action scene at film’s end is very well staged, much like you would think a Scott film we be. There are outbursts of violence throughout the movie, but nothing ever really lasting very long, except for the movie’s climactic shootout. Still, this manages to only accentuate when the movie does break out a bit, making the movie that much more exciting.
It’s always incredible when you get to see a film as quality as American Gangster. Many may have overlooked the movie when they were talking favorites for Oscar consideration, but with a pedigree this good, the movie should really get a second look. From its meticulous film making and terrific performances to its two outstanding leads and great supporting players like Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Ruby Dee, this movie is the real deal. Scott may not ever get the recognition of many of his contemporaries, but when it comes down to it, the man should go down as one of the best of his time.
