Originally posted by shinta:
I don't think it has much to do with the action found in American Gangster (or lack of).
Imho I find it a lack lustre true crime tale. I mean yeah sure, it's a story about hot shot big time drug kingpin Frank Lucas, Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are both renowned actors, but beyond their qualities, this movie is just standard, mundane story telling using traditional formula. There is so much more to Frank Lucas. In terms of character studies, this one fails.
Also, audiences are denied the pleasures of decent on screen chemistry (a proper cop and robber face off) between the two titans until the very end of the show. Pivotal acting these two have been proven to be capable of. Yet another true crime tale doesn't solve any ideas or move anybody, it doesn't break any grounds.
Those familiar with the crime genre will even notice this exhausted technique seen in films with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino (Heat in 1995), Tony Leung and Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs). Even for these 2 movies (I watched both last year) at least there is some sense to the way it was told.
There are no more surprises to the methods Ridley Scott choose to tell his stories. Why bother watching? Just rent lah. His movies are always well sequenced, the editing is acceptable and the sad part is, strong emotions in his characters never see light of day - they sink beneath the grandeur of everything else his mind is busy orchestrating (music score, cinematography, camera work, heavy themes etc).
Not a worthy watch. Pretty disappointing for me as a movie goer. Follows footsteps of too many other shows and the critical moments are missed.