American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster (2007), a biographical crime film, was directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. Set in 1968, it follows the story of Frank Lucas, who worked as the right-hand man for Ellsworth ‘Bumpy’ Johnson, a Harlem mob boss. After Johnson’s death from a heart attack, Frank delves into the heroin trade by sourcing it directly from Thailand and smuggling it into the United States through returning Vietnam War soldiers. He markets his product under the name ‘Blue Magic’, which quickly gains popularity due to its affordability and purity, effectively eliminating much of his competition. Meanwhile, Newark Detective Richie Roberts faces adversity in his precinct after turning in almost $1 million found in a mobster’s car. His captain, Lou Toback, assigns him to lead a task force targeting major drug suppliers after Roberts’ partner overdoses on Blue Magic. At the same time, Roberts is embroiled in an acrimonious divorce battle with his ex-wife over his infidelity.
Frank’s heroin empire flourishes as he sells Blue Magic in bulk to numerous dealers in the New York Tri-State Area and expands his reach through partnerships with other criminal groups. Becoming the most powerful crime boss in Harlem, Frank maintains a low-key profile while establishing legitimate businesses and cultivating relationships with influential figures such as politicians and famous personalities like Joe Louis. Along with providing a lavish mansion for his mother, Frank enlists his five brothers as his trusted advisors. As fate would have it, Frank falls head over heels for Eva, a beautiful Puerto Rican queen whom he eventually marries. The two attend the historic Fight of the Century together, catching the eye of Roberts who takes note of Frank’s prominent seats above those occupied by Italian mobsters. This piques Roberts’ curiosity and prompts him to launch an investigation into Frank’s dealings.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Denzel WashingtonFrank Lucas  Russell CroweRichie Roberts  Chiwetel EjioforHuey Lucas  Josh BrolinDetective Trupo  Lymari NadalEva  Ted LevineLou Toback  John HawkesFreddie Spearman  RZAMoses Jones  Yul VazquezAlfonse Abruzzo  Malcolm GoodwinJimmy Zee  Ruby DeeMama Lucas  Armand AssanteDominic Cattano  Carla GuginoLaurie Roberts  John OrtizJavier J. Rivera  Cuba Gooding Jr.Nicky Barnes  Joe MortonCharlie Williams  Ritchie CosterJoey Sadano  Idris ElbaTango  Clarence Williams IIIBumpy Johnson |
Roger Guenveur Smith
Ruben Santiago-HudsonAmerican Gangster (2007), a biographical crime film, was directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. Set in 1968, it follows the story of Frank Lucas, who worked as the right-hand man for Ellsworth ‘Bumpy’ Johnson, a Harlem mob boss. After Johnson’s death from a heart attack, Frank delves into the heroin trade by sourcing it directly from Thailand and smuggling it into the United States through returning Vietnam War soldiers. He markets his product under the name ‘Blue Magic’, which quickly gains popularity due to its affordability and purity, effectively eliminating much of his competition. Meanwhile, Newark Detective Richie Roberts faces adversity in his precinct after turning in almost $1 million found in a mobster’s car. His captain, Lou Toback, assigns him to lead a task force targeting major drug suppliers after Roberts’ partner overdoses on Blue Magic. At the same time, Roberts is embroiled in an acrimonious divorce battle with his ex-wife over his infidelity.
Frank’s heroin empire flourishes as he sells Blue Magic in bulk to numerous dealers in the New York Tri-State Area and expands his reach through partnerships with other criminal groups. Becoming the most powerful crime boss in Harlem, Frank maintains a low-key profile while establishing legitimate businesses and cultivating relationships with influential figures such as politicians and famous personalities like Joe Louis. Along with providing a lavish mansion for his mother, Frank enlists his five brothers as his trusted advisors. As fate would have it, Frank falls head over heels for Eva, a beautiful Puerto Rican queen whom he eventually marries. The two attend the historic Fight of the Century together, catching the eye of Roberts who takes note of Frank’s prominent seats above those occupied by Italian mobsters. This piques Roberts’ curiosity and prompts him to launch an investigation into Frank’s dealings.
