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Article: SLICK 'AMERICAN GANGSTER' A LITTLE ROUGH, VERY TOUGH.(LA.COM)
- Article from:
- Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
- Article date:
- November 2, 2007
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Daily News. 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: BOB STRAUSS
>FILM CRITIC
"American Gangster's" long struggle to reach the screen hardly shows. It's slick and played with confident brio, while just gritty enough to give the illusion of real life.
Basically, it's Ridley Scott's version of a Michael Mann cops-and-crimelords thriller. That means it's more than perfectly serviceable, though less than immersing like great Scorsese. Actually, it's not even quite "Departed"-level Scorsese, though that, in many ways, is the aspiration.
Set during the Vietnam War, this more-or-less true story follows the parallel paths of inventive Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas and maverick Jersey cop Richie Roberts.
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