American Gangster

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by Sowa

For anyone who doubts how good Denzel is go to the library and rent a video of Malcolm X speaking than go rent the movie Malcolm X... Denzel was phenomenal in that role and got screwed by the academy for Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman which by the way is not a very good movie...

Anyways, I saw American Gangster last night. It was pretty good, but it didn't live up to the hype that I had for it thanks to the reviews.

[Got Miikka?]

Originally Posted by Flames89

Character actors vs Leading Men

###.

Denzel is most certainly the latter. I'm not always a fan, because I tend to agree - he can be a little bit one-dimensional.

He is fantastic in American Gangster. Everyone is great in this movie, including Russell Crowe (he effectively steals the show), who I've also been known to slag off. The movie is not entirely original (I realize it is fact-based) and somewhat formulaic, but it is carried by strong performances from throughout its cast and a couple of set pieces that are the stuff all-time memorable cinema is made of.

Of course, Michael Mann's Heat does everything this movie does, and better, but American Gangster is a solid piece of entertainment.

[Yeah_Baby]

I really enjoyed the movie. Wonder what the Academy thinks of a Scott/Crowe/Washington powerhouse flick. At any rate I think of my favorite parts was when Lucas discusses with the Mob Boss the finer points of a free market economy...

[Juventus3]

Well, after starting this thread more than a month ago I finally had a chance to see this movie last night. I loved it. Great performances by both lead guys. I'm not much of a movie critic so I'll leave it at that. Very entertaining.

[J pold]

Saw it on the weekend, very mediocre movie

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Burninator

What's all this? I said "almost every movie." Not "comparing arbitrary Will Smith movies with each other..." Fresh Prince is a television show by the way.

Fine, let's break it down.

Renegade cop that plays by this own rules:
Bad Boys
Independence Day
Men in Black
Wild Wild West
Men in Black II
Bad Boys II
I, Robot

Troubled Past:
Bad Boys
Independence Day
Men in Black
Enemy of the State
Wild Wild West
Bagger Cance
Ali
Men in Black II
Bad Boys II
I, Robot
Hitch
Pursuit of Happyness

Calm cool and collected:
Every movie.

Ladies man:
You guessed it, every movie.

Prove someone wrong.
Guess he doesn't do that in any of them...oh wait, no, all of them. I didn't bother going through every list, but you get the idea. I never said he was a good or bad actor or that Fresh Prince is the same as the Pursuit of Happiness, but that most of his roles are very similar.

LOL..What are you smoking?

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

LOL..What are you smoking?

Mostly meth.

But thanks for putting in the time for that well thought out rebuttal to my argument. You raise some interesting points and your input is invaluable.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by J pold

Saw it on the weekend, very mediocre movie

mediocre...to each his own I guess.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Mostly meth.

But thanks for putting in the time for that well thought out rebuttal to my argument. You raise some interesting points and your input is invaluable.

I am very sorry. But I do have a life, and I don't really feel like writing a essay to please you.

[corporatejay]

The movie was a bit of a let down, I expected greatness and it was very average. On a personal level, I've hated russell crowe for a long while, but his acting has won me over, the man is truly great. If anyone hasn't seen 3:10 to Yuma I strongly suggest you make a point of doing so, It's his best role since beautiful mind (oh, and Christian Bale is unreal).

The problem with American Gangster was the story. The acting was terrific, I thought the direction was superb, but the storyline itself was just "meh" and "formulaic" It'll probably be up for awards because of the star studded cast. If this wins best picture, it'll be like Gladiator all over again.

[Got Miikka?]

^ I personally didn't find AG as trite and corny as Gladiator, which was one of my concerns going in to this one. Not always the biggest Ridley Scott fan and definitely - you're right - not a fan of Russell Crowe, really, outside of 3:10 to Yuma. However, although Gangster treads familiar territory - the morally ambiguous police/villains, the buildup to and payoff of the showdown between Crowe and Washington, the crime family, the historical presentation, the structure of the plot, etc etc, all of which has been done, and better, in many other films, I did like the capitalist thematic slant, which has not been done. And the acting is outstanding - Washington exudes the most salient qualities of his character with very few words or actions, which is impressive, and Crowe also shines in an understated performance that relies mostly on the pathos of the character. I totally dug the slimeball drug unit head played by James Brolin and the scene between Washington and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the nightclub is also great.

Overall, no way do I call this the best movie of 2007 or even necessarily a contender, but it is solid and entertaining and possesses a bit of substance to compliment its style. Will it get nominated? Probably, but I've seen worse (Gladiator) make the shortlists so I won't be too choked up.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

I am very sorry. But I do have a life, and I don't really feel like writing a essay to please you.

Perhaps you don't understand the concept of a message board then.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

The movie was a bit of a let down, I expected greatness and it was very average. On a personal level, I've hated russell crowe for a long while, but his acting has won me over, the man is truly great. If anyone hasn't seen 3:10 to Yuma I strongly suggest you make a point of doing so, It's his best role since beautiful mind (oh, and Christian Bale is unreal).

The problem with American Gangster was the story. The acting was terrific, I thought the direction was superb, but the storyline itself was just "meh" and "formulaic" It'll probably be up for awards because of the star studded cast. If this wins best picture, it'll be like Gladiator all over again.

I understand what you saying, and maybe I let myself get drawn into the acting and the rest of the presentation as instead of the story itself, but guess sometimes real life can be 'meh' eh?


ps 310 to Yuma was quite the ride wasn't it