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American Gangster
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American Gangster (2007) More at IMDb Pro »

Photos (see all 104 | slideshow) Videos (see all 15)
American Gangster Trailer
Clip: Frank lectures Huey about being too flashy
Interview: Ridley Scott "On the contrast between the two characters"

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   85,622 votes
Director:
Ridley Scott
Writers (WGA):
Steven Zaillian (written by)
Mark Jacobson (article)
Release Date:
2 November 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
There are two sides to the American dream.
Plot:
In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 26 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(92 articles)
300 Producer is Reviving Hopalong Cassidy
 (From TheMovingPicture. 21 November 2008, 2:06 AM, PST)

Mark Canton To Produce Honor For Sale
 (From EmpireOnline. 20 November 2008, 11:51 PM, PST)

User Comments:
excellent story, flawless performances more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Return of Superfly (USA) (working title)
Tru Blu (USA) (original script title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.
Runtime:
157 min | USA:176 min (unrated version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
UK:18 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | Ireland:16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #43495) | Finland:K-15 | Taiwan:R-18 (original rating) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | Japan:R-15 | France:U (with warning) | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:18PL | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Brazil:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | Peru:14 | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Australia:MA
MOVIEmeter: ?
V 9% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When director Antoine Fuqua was attached to the project, he pursued Ray Liotta and John C. Reilly for supporting roles. This was one of many budget-related concerns that lead to Universal's cancellation of this production while it was under Fuqua's management. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Subway trains: During the period of the film's setting, acceptable subway trains would have been anything from R40 and before. The popular subway cars would have been any of the BMT standard, R1/9, R10-R33 cars. Even though cars of a similar design to the 1986 one shown would have been in existence, they would have been very new and very rare. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Bumpy Johnson: Happy Thanksgiving!
more
Movie Connections:
References The Great Train Robbery (1903) more
Soundtrack:
Why Don't We Do It In The Road more

FAQ

Is this movie based on a novel?
Who did Frank kill in the opening scene?
What are the songs in the trailer(s)?
more
112 out of 178 people found the following comment useful:-
excellent story, flawless performances, 29 October 2007
8/10
Author: AdiVrj from Romania

American Gangster is one of the best movies i've recently seen and it is a pleasure to watch even if you are not a gangster movies fan. The story is more captivating than i expected i must say, following Frank Lucas(Denzel Washington) - the afro-American drug lord who raised above all, even the Italian mafia - and Richie Roberts(Russel Crowe), the honest cop in a city full of corruption, sort of Frank Serpico but with less guts.

Denzel Washington delivers a marvelous performance of a man calm and patient yet heart-stopping ferocious at some points, fearless and ambitious but likable as always. His performances are always incredible, he's a great actor, the greatest afro-American actor of all time i dare to say, it's simply a pleasure to watch him in any role.

Russel Crowe delivers a good performance, he's one of the actors that never disappoint in my opinion and i think there's a great chemistry between them (Washington and Crowe) even though few scenes bring them face to face. Richie Roberts is in danger for being one of the few cops that actually do their jobs and refuse to take bribe so i think there's a big resemblance between Richie Roberts and Frank Serpico (Al Pacino 1973).

Cuba Gooding Jr. could have gotten a bigger part, or more scenes because he's a very talented actor and he proved himself many times that he's more than capable of delivering excellent performances.

The drama is less than expected but the movie is very well paced and it never gets boring even if it lasts more than two hours. Everything fits perfectly and there is an excellent antithetical presentation of the wealthy life of Frank Lucas opposite to the lives that he's drugs ruin every day, every hour, every minute...

I strongly recommend to gangster movies fans, actually to those viewers who enjoy good movies because this movie is above average and you will enjoy every second of it.

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Zel the most overrated actor? Melkorinutumno
Best Gangster Movie Elmo007
Watch The Wire instead garrethcarter
Eva... emma_304
Too many rappers Chessclubkillah
Anyone else agree it's boring? mecfc
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