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NFT: Thoughts on 'American Gangster'.

SFGFNCGiantsFan : 3/15/2023 8:13 pm
I watched it earlier on Amazon Prime. I saw it in the theater when it came out, but hadn't seen it since.

Good performances from Denzel & Crowe.

& I know Scott took liberties with the real story.
I saw it in theaters  
UConn4523 : 3/15/2023 8:16 pm : link
I liked it but the 3rd act was weak from what I remember. I’ve been meaning to watch it again so thanks for the reminder.
Good movie, but it had Denzel as Denzel instead of Frank Lucas.  
shockeyisthebest8056 : 3/15/2023 8:32 pm : link
A more accurate depiction is the Frank Lucas from The Many Saints of Newark. Interestingly, that’s not a particularly good movie.
RE: Good movie, but it had Denzel as Denzel instead of Frank Lucas.  
theking : 3/15/2023 8:43 pm : link
In comment 16065953 shockeyisthebest8056 said:
Quote:
A more accurate depiction is the Frank Lucas from The Many Saints of Newark. Interestingly, that’s not a particularly good movie.



Nailed it. Denzel always plays Denzel though. He never should have won that Oscar over Russell Crowe for a Beautiful Mind. Denzel really has no range, but he’s good at being Denzel. John Wayne was the same way, once he tried to veer away and film “Genghis Khan” .. talk about embarrassing.
Loved the first 2/3 rds of the movie  
Rob in Rockaway : 3/15/2023 8:47 pm : link
last 3rd really slowed down - for me at least.
......  
Route 9 : 3/15/2023 9:25 pm : link
I saw that in the movies when it came out. I wasn't exactly dying to see it but it was one of those hey whatever let's get out of the house kind of things with the girlfriend. It had some memorable scenes in it. That was the one where he just shot the guy directly in the head in broad daylight with people around right?

It was okay but from what I remember it was a one watch movie for me. If I see it on TV or I will give it another watch. Like Zero Dark Thirty or all those other movies that everybody has to rent and Rave about because it won some award.
Lol  
bwitz : 3/15/2023 9:30 pm : link
Russel Crowe most definitely did not deserve to win over Denzel for Training Day. That’s ridiculous.
The soundtrack certainly helped hype the movie at the time  
bwitz : 3/15/2023 9:33 pm : link
For me, it was just another pretty good gangster movie that had its moments. Just like The Departed.
Zero Dark Thirty was fantastic  
UConn4523 : 3/15/2023 9:39 pm : link
it won an award because it deserved it.
Wasn’t expecting so much Denzel criticism on this thread.  
bceagle05 : 3/15/2023 9:58 pm : link
American Gangster isn’t his best role, but he has plenty of range, including Shakespeare. As for the movie I agree with the overall sentiments - good but not great. When I stumble on it I usually stick with it.
RE: Zero Dark Thirty was fantastic  
Route 9 : 3/15/2023 10:03 pm : link
In comment 16066039 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
it won an award because it deserved it.


It was OK. Wouldn't watch it again. Just a time killer movie in between two classes back when it came out.
RE: Wasn’t expecting so much Denzel criticism on this thread.  
Payasdaddy : 3/15/2023 10:04 pm : link
In comment 16066051 bceagle05 said:
Quote:
American Gangster isn’t his best role, but he has plenty of range, including Shakespeare. As for the movie I agree with the overall sentiments - good but not great. When I stumble on it I usually stick with it.


I enjoyed it. Saw it again last yr
Denzel being Denzel usually works well for me
Loved “ man of fire”
RE: Lol  
Route 9 : 3/15/2023 10:07 pm : link
In comment 16066030 bwitz said:
Quote:
Russel Crowe most definitely did not deserve to win over Denzel for Training Day. That’s ridiculous.


Not ridiculous at all. That movie was so fucking overrated.
Denzel has been Denzel the last 20 years  
UConn4523 : 3/15/2023 10:07 pm : link
or so but when he was in his prime he had plenty of range, including Training Day. His Alonzo was awesome.
RE: RE: Zero Dark Thirty was fantastic  
UConn4523 : 3/15/2023 10:10 pm : link
In comment 16066055 Route 9 said:
Quote:
In comment 16066039 UConn4523 said:


Quote:


it won an award because it deserved it.



It was OK. Wouldn't watch it again. Just a time killer movie in between two classes back when it came out.


Aren’t all movies and shows just time killers then?
LOL@ Denzel having no range  
JoeyBigBlue : 3/15/2023 10:16 pm : link
He’s probably the greatest actor of the last 50 years, when you consider he has done everything from the big screen to Broadway.
......  
Route 9 : 3/15/2023 10:16 pm : link
Well. I had nothing to do after my exam and my college was pretty far from my house but no sense in driving to go home for 1-2 hours. I guess to put it this way, that wasn't a movie I would've went to go see on my own if I didn't have a hole in time to fill. There are other movie trailers I see and make sure I see them that attracts um ... my attention.
RE: LOL@ Denzel having no range  
UConn4523 : 3/15/2023 10:21 pm : link
In comment 16066079 JoeyBigBlue said:
Quote:
He’s probably the greatest actor of the last 50 years, when you consider he has done everything from the big screen to Broadway.


Yeah I don’t get it either. He certainly has his staple mannerisms but that doesn’t = no range. His catalog of roles is vast.
Hmmm.  
ciggy : 3/15/2023 10:22 pm : link
Richie Roberts is the character that Crowe played, the lawyer. Google it. Lots of interesting stuff happened after the time portrayed in the movie.
RE: LOL@ Denzel having no range  
section125 : 3/15/2023 10:28 pm : link
In comment 16066079 JoeyBigBlue said:
Quote:
He’s probably the greatest actor of the last 50 years, when you consider he has done everything from the big screen to Broadway.


Think I might go with Morgan Freeman or Michael Caine narrowly over Denzel and I flat out love Denzel. Three of my favorites.
I actually wasn’t being critical of Denzel. I love him.  
shockeyisthebest8056 : 3/15/2023 11:09 pm : link
My issue is when you’re making a biographical film (or semi biopic), there can’t be that much license taken with real people. Frank Lucas wasn’t the debonair guy Denzel played. He was from the fucking country.
RE: LOL@ Denzel having no range  
Beezer : 3/15/2023 11:09 pm : link
In comment 16066079 JoeyBigBlue said:
Quote:
He’s probably the greatest actor of the last 50 years, when you consider he has done everything from the big screen to Broadway.


Greatest actor of the last 50 years?

Love me some Denzel but I think even Denzel would argue with you there.
RE: RE: Lol  
bwitz : 3/15/2023 11:14 pm : link
In comment 16066058 Route 9 said:
Quote:
In comment 16066030 bwitz said:


Quote:


Russel Crowe most definitely did not deserve to win over Denzel for Training Day. That’s ridiculous.



Not ridiculous at all. That movie was so fucking overrated.


Maybe. Denzel still gave a better performance than Crowe.
RE: ......  
bwitz : 3/15/2023 11:16 pm : link
In comment 16066081 Route 9 said:
Quote:
Well. I had nothing to do after my exam and my college was pretty far from my house but no sense in driving to go home for 1-2 hours. I guess to put it this way, that wasn't a movie I would've went to go see on my own if I didn't have a hole in time to fill. There are other movie trailers I see and make sure I see them that attracts um ... my attention.


A buddy of mine and I did that with Date Movie years ago when we got to Anaheim too early for an Angels/Yankees matchup. We should’ve just sat in the parking lot.
......  
Route 9 : 3/15/2023 11:43 pm : link
Why Denzel have to be crooked before he took it?
That’s a good question  
bwitz : 3/16/2023 12:01 am : link
There are the the obvious, valid reasons/arguments. But, on a different level, people like to root for the bad guy.
RE: That’s a good question  
Route 9 : 3/16/2023 12:24 am : link
In comment 16066241 bwitz said:
Quote:
There are the the obvious, valid reasons/arguments. But, on a different level, people like to root for the bad guy.


That was from some rap song from 20 years ago lol
I should have remembered that.  
bwitz : 3/16/2023 1:16 am : link
Fuck. 20 years ago.
Denzel plays Denzel because that's what the people pay to see  
Gary from The East End : Admin : 3/16/2023 3:06 am : link
It's part and parcel of being a movie star. It has little to do with his range as an actor.
RE: RE: LOL@ Denzel having no range  
JoeyBigBlue : 3/16/2023 5:06 am : link
In comment 16066191 Beezer said:
Quote:
In comment 16066079 JoeyBigBlue said:


Quote:


He’s probably the greatest actor of the last 50 years, when you consider he has done everything from the big screen to Broadway.



Greatest actor of the last 50 years?

Love me some Denzel but I think even Denzel would argue with you there.


Ok, name me another Actor with two Academy awards, 2 Golden globes, and a Tony Award. The New York Times named Denzel the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2020.
I enjoyed it  
Lines of Scrimmage : 3/16/2023 9:42 am : link
There also is a show on Epic with Forest Whitaker called the "Godfather of Harlem" which is based on Bumpy Johnson who Frank Lucas took over for.
RE: I enjoyed it  
Greg from LI : 3/16/2023 10:12 am : link
In comment 16066460 Lines of Scrimmage said:
Quote:
There also is a show on Epic with Forest Whitaker called the "Godfather of Harlem" which is based on Bumpy Johnson who Frank Lucas took over for.


Bumpy Johnson was also the main character in Hoodlum, played by Laurence Fishburne.
EVERY Director takes liberties  
Section331 : 3/16/2023 10:14 am : link
with “based on true events” stories. You have to make it watchable after all.
just a very rewatchable movie  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 3/16/2023 11:43 am : link
or at least the first half as others have mentioned the kinda weak final act. I really enjoyed Denzel's portrayal of Lucas. He played the understated cold blooded gangster role well imo.

It's not Goodfellas, but it's an easy and enjoyable watch imo.
should have kept it to  
bc4life : 3/18/2023 11:18 am : link
real story. should have told more of Bumpy's background. Did not show enough of the damage of Lucas' heroin empire. Turned it into bad cop story. Clearly that was part of it but movie veered way off course. One key omission - Lucas was going to kill one of his cousins over money

Denzel and Crowe two great actors.
RE: RE: Good movie, but it had Denzel as Denzel instead of Frank Lucas.  
santacruzom : 3/21/2023 11:52 pm : link
In comment 16065970 theking said:
Quote:
In comment 16065953 shockeyisthebest8056 said:


Quote:


A more accurate depiction is the Frank Lucas from The Many Saints of Newark. Interestingly, that’s not a particularly good movie.




Nailed it. Denzel always plays Denzel though. He never should have won that Oscar over Russell Crowe for a Beautiful Mind. Denzel really has no range, but he’s good at being Denzel. John Wayne was the same way, once he tried to veer away and film “Genghis Khan” .. talk about embarrassing.


Denzel has NO range? That sounds like one of those "Jimi Hendrix was a limited guitarist"-style contrarian remarks.

Do you think his mannerisms and presence in Training Day is remotely similar to his characters from Man On Fire or Crimson Ride?
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