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Article: In 'American Gangster,' true crime doesn't pay off.(FEATURES)(WEEKEND)(Movie review)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- November 2, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Peter Rainer Film critic of The Christian Science Monitor
The self-importance of Ridley Scott's "American Gangster" announces itself with its title. This is not intended to be just any old crime thriller. It's going to be archetypal.
The fact that it's "based on a true story" lends credence to the notion that what we are seeing is more "real" than the usual trumped-up gangster scenarios. But despite its heavy-duty packaging, "American Gangster" is in many respects just as hokey and melodramatic as its less authenticated forebears. It's an entertaining pulp pastiche with pretensions.
Denzel Washington is Frank Lucas, who served as driver ...