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American Gangster (2007)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 208
Fresh: 165 | Rotten: 43

American Gangster is a gritty and entertaining throwback to classic gangster films, with its lead performers firing on all cylinders.

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 43
Fresh: 33 | Rotten: 10

American Gangster is a gritty and entertaining throwback to classic gangster films, with its lead performers firing on all cylinders.

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Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 922,480

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Movie Info

Director Ridley Scott spins this yarn concerning a Harlem drug kingpin (Denzel Washington) who smuggles heroin into the country by hiding it in the bodies of U.S. soldiers killed during battle in Vietnam. There was a time when no one noticed reserved driver Frank Lucas (Washington), but when the criminal kingpin he was charged with transporting through the city streets suddenly dies, Lucas seizes the opportunity to build his own criminal empire. In the following months, Lucas solidifies his

R, 2 hr. 37 min.

Drama

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Written By: Steven Zallian

In Theaters: Nov 2, 2007 Wide

On DVD: Feb 19, 2008

Box Office:$130.1M

Universal Pictures

American Gangster Trailer & Photos

More Photos (35)

Cast

Denzel Washington
Frank Lucas
Russell Crowe
Richie Roberts
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Huey Lucas
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Nicky Barnes
Josh Brolin
Det. Trupo
Ted Levine
Lou Toback
Armand Assante
Dominic Cattano
Clarence Williams III
Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johns...
John Ortiz
Javier J. Rivera
John Hawkes
Freddie Spearman
RZA
Moses Jones
Lymari Nadal
Eva
Yul V�zquez
Alfonse Abruzzo
Ruby Dee
Mama Lucas
Idris Elba
Tango
Carla Gugino
Laurie Roberts
Joe Morton
Charlie Williams
Common
Turner Lucas
Jon Polito
Rossi
Kevin Corrigan
Campizi
Roger Guenveur Smith
Nate
Malcolm Goodwin
Jimmy Zee
Ric Young
Chinese General
Roger Bart
U.S. Attorney
Tip 'T.I.' Harris
Stevie Lucas
KaDee Strickland
Richie's Attorney
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Doc
Norman Reedus
Detective in Morgue
Albert Jones
Terrence Lucas
J. Kyle Manzay
Dexter Lucas
Warner Miller
Melvin Lucas
Hamilton Clancy
Seller

Critic Reviews for American Gangster

All Critics (208) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (172) | Rotten (44) | DVD (22)

Ridley Scott's gangster flick aims high and mostly measures up.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: NPR.org

| Comment

Bob Mondello

NPR.org

Top Critic

How much truth we get in the movie version is hard to say...nobody much cares if it's gospel, as long as it's riveting. Here, alas, it is not.

November 6, 2007 Full Review Source: Film.com

| Comment

Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Top Critic

For all its grit, style and atmosphere, Gangster never sweeps you away. It has neither the lurid bravado of De Palma's "Scarface" nor the intimate grasp of the criminal lifestyle you find in Scorsese or Coppola.

November 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Newsweek

| Comment (1)

David Ansen

Newsweek

Top Critic

Washington's steely grip on his impersonation of Frank Lucas holds the film together.

November 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top Critic

Ridley Scott's listless Big Statement is a wheezy, hot air-inflated dud.

November 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comments (3)

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Top Critic

An intelligent, well-made and seductive movie.

November 2, 2007 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

It's 157 minutes long, but immerses its audience with its twists and intricacies as it plays out and considers the logistics and consequences of crime and police corruption, with a plethora of show-stealing performances from the cast.

July 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Digital Spy

| Comment

Alex Fletcher

Digital Spy

American Gangster an epic, true crime drama, that although not entirely original in its premise is excellent in its execution.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Matt's Movie Reviews

| Comment

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

Flattened by Scott's cardboard evocation of New York in the '70s, Zaillian's shallow criticism of corrupting power, and weirdly bloodless performances

August 27, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

File this one under "American Oscar Wanna-Be."

April 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix

| Comment

Peter Keough

Boston Phoenix

When American Gangster was announced, with actors Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott, it seemed like a can't miss project. It missed.

February 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly

| Comment (1)

Tony Macklin

Fayetteville Free Weekly

Violent, drug-fueled drama isn't for kids.

July 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

Washington may have not wanted to glorify the Harlem drug dealer, but with his superb acting skills he has created one of the coolest gangsters since Tony Montana.

May 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Watertown Daily Times

| Comment

Adam Tobias

Watertown Daily Times

Telling a true story doesn't excuse a filmmaker from making his movie stand out from the many others that have traversed similar ground.

May 1, 2008 Full Review Source: MSNBC

| Comment (1)

Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

It feels familiar, even Washington's performance of real-life Frank Lucas feels like something we've seen before.

March 4, 2008 Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review

| Comment

Jeff Bayer

The Scorecard Review

It isn't that American Gangster is an empirically bad film or is even unenjoyable. But don't be surprised if, when you walk out of the theater, you forget the film ever existed.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: Colorado Springs Gazette

| Comment

Brandon Fibbs

Colorado Springs Gazette

With the exceptional extras piled on, the unrated-extended DVD let's you judge drug lord Lucas for yourself.

February 22, 2008 Full Review | Comment

Victoria Alexander

FilmsInReview.com

Inflated talk of American Gangster as a modern masterpiece--or even an Oscar-worthy picture--ignores the fact that there's not a single memorable setpiece in the film.

February 19, 2008 Comments (2)

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

Steven Zallian (Gangs of New York) tackles the screenplay, which is based on an article by Mark Jacobson, and creates a captivating story with an otherwise basic premise.

February 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Bronsonfive

| Comment

Michael Ferraro

Bronsonfive Source: Bronsonfive

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for American Gangster

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Though not on par with other gangster classics by Scorsese, Copolla or DePalma, this look at the life of a Harlem drug kingpin is a fascinating watch and a great return from Ridley Scott. Denzel Washington puts in a great performance as well.

October 31, 2011

Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

Although it doesn't hold up to memory as well as it probably should be given its fairly familiar plot, 'Gangster' is still worth a view thanks to the presence alone of Denzel Washington as an emerging drug kingpin. The Russell Crowe character is heavily cliched and could have been better developed, but the hunting down

August 22, 2007

Dan Schultz

Super Reviewer

American Gangster Quotes

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1. Frank Lucas: Even a fool gets to be young once.
– Submitted by Alexandar T (6 months ago)
1. Richie Roberts: It was the right thing to do.
– Submitted by F�lix C (9 months ago)
1. Frank Lucas: You're either somebody or you're nobody.
– Submitted by Alex O (9 months ago)
1. Richie Roberts: The number one fear of people isn't dying, it's public speaking.
– Submitted by rob g (9 months ago)
1. Frank Lucas: This is my home. My country. Frank Lucas don't run from nobody. This is America.
– Submitted by rob g (9 months ago)

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