Hollywood star's gangster film with 'best ever' performance to leave Amazon Prime in days

Edinburgh Live

13-05-2025

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Under the helm of Hollywood icon Ridley Scott, known for masterpieces like Alien and Gladiator, the 2007 film American Gangster is set to depart Amazon Prime, prompting fans to shower it with accolades. This biographical crime thriller, directed by Scott, delves into the real-life story of notorious drug kingpin Frank Lucas.
The movie is rooted in Lucas's illicit exploits, specifically his cunning strategy of smuggling heroin into the U.S. during the Vietnam War era.
The infamous gangster leveraged American military planes returning from the war to transport his narcotics, a scheme that continued until his eventual capture and imprisonment. Notoriously, Lucas once bragged about concealing heroin within the coffins of deceased servicemen - a shocking tactic that ultimately led to his 70-year prison sentence.
While the film takes creative liberties with certain aspects of Lucas's life, it vividly portrays the harsh realities of mob life in 1970s America. According to a Rotten Tomatoes review: "The pacing starts slow but keeps you hooked. It captures the grime and glamour of the '70s, the mobsters who ran the streets, and the few "untouchable" cops resistant to the corruption running deep in drug enforcement.
"At its core, it's an action-packed drama about two men on opposite sides of the law: one building an empire through crime, the other a determined detective fighting against the odds to take him down", reports Surrey Live.
Echoing this sentiment, another viewer shared: "Similar ground to the tale of the rise and fall of a gangster; however, this is one of the best to do it, and Denzel's performance is very good.
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"The music choices, the settings and the story of Lucas caught my fancy. It may not pack the same level of violence and tension as other gangster films, but it's without doubt an impressive movie," another fan added.
Denzel Washington stars as the infamous mobster in the flick, with Russell Crowe playing against him, and audiences are praising Washington's convincing act. His stellar performance earned him plaudits and nominations from the Golden Globe Awards to the BAFTAs, while the film itself snagged nods in several categories.
One review raved: "Best Denzel Washington movie by a country mile. Outstanding performance. Chuck in Russell Crowe at the very top of his game. Finally, a brilliant true story. Mix it all together and bingo, a CLASSIC ! ! ! ! !".
Meanwhile, another viewer remarked: "Outstanding performances by Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe put this film among the top films of this genre."
More than 15 years after its release, the movie still boasts a solid 81% aggregate score on the review site.
Film enthusiasts will be stunned to discover that it is due to depart from Amazon Prime on June 3, leaving those who haven't seen it yet with only a few days remaining.