No one took Frank Lucas seriously as the cab driver and friend of drug boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson until something happened that gave Lucas the opportunity to become the largest heroin kingpin in all of Harlem, NY. Set in the year 1968, “American Gangster” follows the rise and fall of the infamous drug lord Frank Lucas. Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, was born in Greensboro, NC. He eventually takes over Harlem’s biggest drug ring after his boss, Johnson, dies at 62 from a heart attack.
In this movie, Lucas battles to stay on top of Harlem, all the while, being closely pursued by Ritchie Roberts, played by Russell Crowe. Roberts’ and Lucas’ acting throughout this movie makes for a true Oscar-worthy performance.
The acting is so intense that it distracts viewers from the underlying story of racism in Harlem. Lucas was not only the kingpin who was importing the purest kind of heroin into the United States and selling it for a cheaper price, but he was also looked at as an immense threat. The Italians and mob bosses who had previously been in control of the drug trade began to resent the fact that a black man might be outsmarting them.
If you are familiar with the true-life story of Lucas, this movie brings to life a small part of his real life. But nevertheless, I recommend this engrossing movie to anyone who is into the grittiness of inner city life.
The most memorable moment of the movie was when Lucas explained how his self-made empire is completely different from the one that his good friend Johnson had.
“The man I worked for had one of the biggest companies in New York City. He didn’t own his own company. White man owned it, so they owned him. Nobody owns me, though.”
Production Company: Universal Studios and IMAGINE Entertainment.