IMDb > American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster
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American Gangster (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 104 | slideshow) Videos (see all 30)
American Gangster (2007) -- American Gangster Trailer
American Gangster (2007) -- Clip: Frank lectures Huey about being too flashy
American Gangster (2007) -- Interview: Ridley Scott "On the contrast between the two characters"
American Gangster (2007) -- In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East.
American Gangster (2007) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   103,404 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Steven Zaillian (written by)
Mark Jacobson (article)
Contact:
View company contact information for American Gangster on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 November 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
There are two sides to the American dream.
Plot:
In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 28 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(244 articles)
The Wire: taking sociology forwards? | Steve Busfield
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 27 November 2009, 7:19 AM, PST)

10 closest Oscar races in the past 20 years
 (From Gold Derby. 23 November 2009, 1:12 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Detractors of this film were fooled by the trailer. more (402 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Return of Superfly (USA) (working title)
Tru Blu (USA) (original script title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violence, pervasive drug content and language, nudity and sexuality.
Runtime:
157 min | USA:176 min (unrated version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the late 1980s, screenwriter Thomas Lee Wright wrote an outline of The Godfather: Part III (1990) for Francis Ford Coppola. Included in Wright's version was a character based off of famed Harlem gangster, Leroy 'Nicky' Barnes (portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr. in this film). During the time that Coppola was considering this idea, Wright discussed the role with Eddie Murphy, who immediately accepted the role without reading a script. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: At the end of the film, when Frank Lucas is released from prison and is standing on the sidewalk in front of the prison, an 'extra' walks from the right of the screen to the left and passes. In the next shot the same man is shown passing the same way. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Bumpy Johnson: Happy Thanksgiving!
more
Movie Connections:
References Across 110th Street (1972) more
Soundtrack:
How Great Thou Art more

FAQ

Who did Frank kill in the opening scene?
Is "American Gangster" based on a true story?
What are the songs in the trailer(s)?
more
394 out of 520 people found the following comment useful.
Detractors of this film were fooled by the trailer., 24 October 2007
8/10
Author: andrewfreeley87 from United States

American Gangster has been really hated upon in many of the former posts I have read. Yet it seems like they are all saying the same thing, that Gangster didn't have enough action and was really drawn out. Anyone who has every seen a Ridley Scott film will know that his films are long! Blade Runner, A Good Year, Matchstick Men, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, G.I. Jane, Thelma and Louis, and Alien all ran for at least two hours or more, so big surprise there guys. In addition Scott didn't set out to film another scarface, he set out to tell a story not just about Frank Lucas but rather a tale of corruption and how pervasive it is. One user commented that this film had many side story lines that "bloated" the story. This is completely untrue as every "side story" is actually the overarching story about the fight against corruption in every facet of life, even Frank Lucas attempts several times to eradicate the corruption in his organization.

Over all this is a great film which really gets into every nook and cranny of an issue. Don't see this film if your just looking for cheap thrills, this is a thinking film about the pervasive dishonesty of our culture.

I gave this film 8 stars because i could find nothing solid that detracted from it, but rather a slew of minor details which gradually brought its score down. But I will put this film in my top films for the year, if only because I have been immensely unsatisfied with the bulk of releases this year.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (402 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for American Gangster (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Who else thought this movie was way overrated! paciello22
Greatest scene of all time(one of) leobourne
Should have been called American Snitch jlkonandreas
Who would you cast if this film was actually made in the '70s? eight_days
Crowe's partner at the film's beginning kpd0943
Different ending on Dvd???? Clarify please leobourne
more

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