Summary
Ridley Scott's gangland saga has been called the "Black Scarface" and the "Harlem Godfather" It's not difficult to see why critics might go there. The comparisons don't hold up, however, particularly with regard to Coppola's classic. His 1972 The Godfather takes the viewer on a tragic interior journey. We watch as Michael Corleone is transformed from a rosy-cheeked war hero into a cold-hearted mob boss. Following step by step, we understand why he does what he does; how he becomes what he becomes. A dozen other characters are brought as vividly and fully to life.
Adapted from a 2000 New York magazine profile by Mark Jacobson, the film moves fast, looks sharp, and spins the true story of a hot-tempered braggart into a fictionalized portrait of a far more fascinating figure. Though [Russell Crowe] is convincing in a smaller, less colorful role, the movie belongs to Washington. His [Frank Lucas] may bear little resemblance to the real one, but he's a gas and a half to behold: meditative one minute, explosively violent the next, and dressed at all times like the world's most dangerous CEO. Regrettably, Steven Zaillian's script doesn't take us deeper. While it's exciting to learn what made Lucas millions, it might've been nice to learn what made him tick.See the full content of this document
Extract
American Gangster
American Gangster ****
BROOKS BROTHERWashington does some of the finest work of his career in the role of real-life Harlem crime boss Frank Lucas.Ridley Scott's gangland saga has been called the "...See the full content of this document
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