Movie Review: American Gangster

American Gangster is a film you'd think would be fit for Martin Scorsese. How so? Well, it is a gangster crime drama, silly. And well, he is good at making those movies. Anyway, Ridley Scott, the person who actually did direct this film, did a job well done. It isn't one of his classic movies like Alien or Blade Runner, but it definitely creeps up there.
American Gangster tells a story of the rise of Frank Lucas, one of Harlem's most notorious mob bosses during the Vietnam War era. Despite being over 2 and a 1/2 hours long, it actually flows pretty well. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe turn in their usual great performances, but the scene stealer in this movie is that of Ruby Dee. She plays Denzel Washington's mother. And although her appearance in this movie is rather short, she does a great job.
So, although American Gangster doesn't rank in as a classic gangster films such as the Godfather or Goodfellas, it is still a pretty enjoyable movie.
3.5 out of 5