Denzel in ‘American Gangster’: How to Run a Drug Empire?

[pres]

The ‘story’ for Denzel’s upcoming movie, ‘American Gangster’, says the film is about a drug lord who ‘through ingenuity and a strict business ethic, he comes to rule the inner-city drug trade, flooding the streets with a pure product at a better price.’ Is this a good thing? Click on the trailer and the story.

Go to: AfAmReport

Click on: ‘News Stories’ at the top, scroll to Denzel: American Gangster

[poeticasylum1]

I dont know whether or not its a good thing,but its based on a true story. If some of us are renting movies like Scarface, Goodfellas, The Godfather etc, surely we can patronize movies like Hoodlum and American Gangster. I dont advocate violence but as I always like to say it is what it is.

[DBlack]

Pres, please provide a link that takes us directly to the article so no one has to look for it. thx

Since I like action and violence movies, I would probably go see it. Denzel's doesn't do blacksploitation flicks, so i trust his involvement in the movie.

[SchoolofSoul]

There's no article linked on that site, just a link to the movie's website.

I've found some more specific info, though.

The trailer:
September 2006 | blackfilm.com | AMERICAN GANGSTER

The movie's Wikipedia entry:
American Gangster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The original New York magazine article about Frank Lucas that inspired the movie:
The Return of Superfly

The official site:
Denzel Washington| Russell Crowe | American Gangster | In Theaters November 2

American Gangster is the true success story of a 1970s cult hero from the streets of Harlem. Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, Brian Grazer, Steve Zaillian and director Ridley Scott team to tell the tale of the American Gangster.

In American Gangster, Frank Lucas (Washington) is the quiet, often overlooked driver for one of the inner city’s leading black crime bosses. He takes advantage of the hole left in the power structure created by his boss’ death and builds his own empire. His ingenuity and strict business ethic gives him total control over the inner-city drug trade.

American Gangster’s streetwise, outcast cop Richie Roberts (Crowe) senses a shift of control in the drug underworld. Roberts believes someone is climbing the rungs above the known Mafia families and starts to suspect that a black power player has come from nowhere to dominate the scene.

In American Gangster, Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that makes them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. Their destinies become intertwined as they approach a confrontation where only one of them can come out on top.

Washington and Crowe lead a spectacular cast of accomplished and rising stars in American Gangster—including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Josh Brolin, Armand Assante, RZA, John Ortiz, John Hawkes and Ted Levine. This blistering tale of a true American entrepreneur directed by Oscar® nominee Ridley Scott (Gladiator) and produced by Academy Award® winner Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind) and Scott from a screenplay by Academy Award® winner Steve Zaillian (Schindler’s List). American Gangster opens in theaters November 2.

[SchoolofSoul]

Originally Posted by poeticasylum1

If some of us are renting movies like Scarface, Goodfellas, The Godfather etc, surely we can patronize movies like Hoodlum and American Gangster.

It's interesting that you should mention Hoodlum; in some ways, American Gangster could be considered a sort of sequel to Hoodlum, in that, in real life, Frank Lucas (the focus of American Gangster) was a protege of Bumpy Johnson (the focus of Hoodlum), and took over when Johnson died of a heart attack in Harlem in 1968. In fact, Bumpy literally died in Frank Lucas' arms.

[Dark Kent]

It sounds alot like the first season of The Wire, especially after seeing the trailer. So that makes it a must see for me.

[Great Ursus]

Originally Posted by SchoolofSoul

It's interesting that you should mention Hoodlum; in some ways, American Gangster could be considered a sort of sequel to Hoodlum, in that, in real life, Frank Lucas (the focus of American Gangster) was a protege of Bumpy Johnson (the focus of Hoodlum), and took over when Johnson died of a heart attack in Harlem in 1968. In fact, Bumpy literally died in Frank Lucas' arms.

Deep.................

[Mr Gumbo]

I like seeing Denzel play the "bad guy". I thought he said he wasn't gonna do another gangsta flick again?

[Muze]

i don't think denzel would do anything necessarily giving a bad message, and it's based on a true story. i have to go see this film. i'm embarrassed to say i just saw Deja Vu like yesterday. lol.

[afrocentric]

(mumbling & lookin for my bootleggers number) where in the hell did i put it?!