Scan and Pan
Thursday, December 20, 2007
American Gangster
The story depicts the rise of Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) in the early 1970s and how he's brought down by doggedly honest Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe).
Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) never fails to put together a polished film, but what this one lacks is energy. As well-made as it is, the momentum switch seems to be set to 'coasting' from start to finish, as if Scott simply couldn't muster the passion for it. Although the screenplay by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List, Gangs of New York) is competently written, there's absolutely nothing in it that we haven't seen before in similar films. It's scripted by the numbers and pays scant attention to developing its characters or their motivations. We learn that as a child Lucas witnessed police murder his cousin. We learn that Roberts is as dishonest in his personal life as he is honest in his professional one. That's about as developed as the characters get.
The moody cinematography by Harris Savides (Finding Forrester, Zodiac) nicely captures the gritty, urban feel of the story, while production designer Arthur Max (Se7en, Gladiator) and costume designer Janty Yates (Gladiator, Miami Vice) provide an authentic period look. The score by Marc Streitenfeld (A Good Year) is simple but effective, with songs from the period also being used.
Despite his character being underdeveloped, Washington delivers a good performance as Lucas. His charisma always makes him watchable even in lesser films, and that trait serves this production well. Crowe's performance is respectable, but pales in comparison to his work in 3:10 to Yuma earlier in the year. The only time he gives off sparks is in the few scenes he shares with Washington.
It's certainly true that the best thing about the film is its cast, even if it seems that some good actors are wasted on routine roles that don't require them to stretch their acting muscles. That cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' brother Huey, Josh Brolin as a corrupt detective, Lymari Nadal as Lucas' beauty queen wife, Cuba Gooding Jr. as a rival gangster, Ted Levine as Roberts' superior, Armand Assante as a Mafia boss, John Hawkes as Roberts' partner, Ruby Dee as Lucas' mother, Carla Gugino as Roberts' ex-wife, Joe Morton as an associate of Lucas, and Clarence Williams III as Lucas' mentor Bumpy Johnson.
American Gangster wants to be a gangster film, a police procedural, a study of police corruption, a morality play, and a biography, and its inability to decide which it really is leaves it feeling unfocused. It's an uninspired attempt from filmmakers who have proven that they're capable of much more, and that's the most disappointing thing about it.
[2.5 out of 5 stars]
On paper, the combination of a noted director, an Oscar-winning screenwriter, and two really good actors probably sounded like a sure-fire winner, so why doesn't it work?
The story depicts the rise of Harlem heroin dealer Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) in the early 1970s and how he's brought down by doggedly honest Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe).
Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) never fails to put together a polished film, but what this one lacks is energy. As well-made as it is, the momentum switch seems to be set to 'coasting' from start to finish, as if Scott simply couldn't muster the passion for it. Although the screenplay by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List, Gangs of New York) is competently written, there's absolutely nothing in it that we haven't seen before in similar films. It's scripted by the numbers and pays scant attention to developing its characters or their motivations. We learn that as a child Lucas witnessed police murder his cousin. We learn that Roberts is as dishonest in his personal life as he is honest in his professional one. That's about as developed as the characters get.
The moody cinematography by Harris Savides (Finding Forrester, Zodiac) nicely captures the gritty, urban feel of the story, while production designer Arthur Max (Se7en, Gladiator) and costume designer Janty Yates (Gladiator, Miami Vice) provide an authentic period look. The score by Marc Streitenfeld (A Good Year) is simple but effective, with songs from the period also being used.
Despite his character being underdeveloped, Washington delivers a good performance as Lucas. His charisma always makes him watchable even in lesser films, and that trait serves this production well. Crowe's performance is respectable, but pales in comparison to his work in 3:10 to Yuma earlier in the year. The only time he gives off sparks is in the few scenes he shares with Washington.
It's certainly true that the best thing about the film is its cast, even if it seems that some good actors are wasted on routine roles that don't require them to stretch their acting muscles. That cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' brother Huey, Josh Brolin as a corrupt detective, Lymari Nadal as Lucas' beauty queen wife, Cuba Gooding Jr. as a rival gangster, Ted Levine as Roberts' superior, Armand Assante as a Mafia boss, John Hawkes as Roberts' partner, Ruby Dee as Lucas' mother, Carla Gugino as Roberts' ex-wife, Joe Morton as an associate of Lucas, and Clarence Williams III as Lucas' mentor Bumpy Johnson.
American Gangster wants to be a gangster film, a police procedural, a study of police corruption, a morality play, and a biography, and its inability to decide which it really is leaves it feeling unfocused. It's an uninspired attempt from filmmakers who have proven that they're capable of much more, and that's the most disappointing thing about it.
[2.5 out of 5 stars]
Comments:
Post a Comment
