"American Gangster" movie review

This week we'll be taking a look at the current #1 movie at the box office, American Gangster. Ridley Scott directs this detective (Russell Crowe) vs. gangster (Denzel Washington) drama, set mostly in New York City during the end of the Vietnam War.

Ryan: It is not everyday that two Hollywood megastars co-star in a major motion picture. The pairing of Washington and Crowe is what makes American Gangster such a must see film. Make no mistake about it: American Gangster is a very good film. It is not a movie that's an instant classic (or even best picture material like last year's The Departed) but it is a film that is tremendously well put together that showcases the talents of two of the best actors of their generation.

Andy: It's true that Crowe and Washington are both big stars, but make no mistake about it. Denzel Washington's presence here is what filled theatres. In spite of his obvious talent as an actor, Russell Crowe has never connected with his audience as a major draw to a movie. Washington, on the other hand, almost always seems to have a strong opening weekend, at least. This movie offers an example of why this may be the case. Crowe and Washington both have outstanding, equally impressive performances. But Washington seems so much cooler doing it than Crowe does. I wish Washington did not so frequently play the tough-as-nails anti-hero, but he sure is good at it.

Ryan: This isn't Washington's or Crowe's best work but they do deliver strong performances. They don't share much screen time together and that might put off some moviegoers. But their respected performances are solid enough that they propel the dual narratives along until they intersect each other. When they do finally meet up on screen it makes for a really cool movie moment. The scene might not have the most dramatic effect that one might want from the pairing of two stars but overall the scene works within the framework of the film.

Andy: I actually would have liked to see Ridley Scott play up the meeting of Crowe and Washington's characters a little bit more. The whole movie is leading us toward their inevitable confrontation, and when it happens it's a little anticlimactic. It would have been fun to watch two actors of this caliber trading chops on screen, but instead we get a bit of a tidy, wrapped up ending. As Ryan said, it does fit the movie pretty well, but it's hard not to wonder what could have been between the two.

Ryan: Like I said before, American Gangster is a fine film but it doesn't have that “something extra” that really grabs you. It's a film that's good enough to end up on many critics' top ten lists but it won't be a film that makes the number one spot. It just lacks that pizzazz that would have made it a great film. It's based on a true story and at times it feels like the movie's pace is more along the lines of a Sixty Minute's news segment as opposed to a drug-trafficking crime thriller. The resolution to the movie is a bit clunky as well as the movie takes an unexpected turn with the two leads that might frustrate some moviegoers. Even with these shortcomings, American Gangster is a finely made entertaining film.

Andy: Good, not great is a fine way of summing this movie up. There aren't that many shortcomings of the film, but nothing jumps out as being particularly overwhelming, either. It may garner a couple of random Oscar nominations, but mostly it's just a good, escapist crime drama. If this is the sort of movie you are into, you won't be disappointed, but no new ground has been broken here.

American Gangster is solidly constructed and well acted. Final grade: B+.