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Movie Review: Washington, Crowe Stellar In 'American Gangster'
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: Focus
What is particularly amazing about "American Gangster" is that Scott was able to take two huge names, two Oscar-winning A-list actors - Crowe and Washington - and put them in the same film, yet doesn't make one more important than the other. The parallel storylines build each character up so both are the lead actors. While most will flock to Washington's character because he is the bad guy after all - he plays villains well, as viewers saw in his Best Actor performance in "Training Day" - Crowe's character has a certain charm to him that's come to be expected, especially since his Oscar-winning performance in "A Beautiful Mind." Washington, however, is a great gangster and is much more believable than other thugs like Al Pacino's Tony Montana.
The film also features a bevy of top-notch supporting actors including rapper Common, who is beginning to do more work in film, Chiwetel Ejiofor who has been in a few great pictures - the highly underrated "Serenity" and "Four Brothers" to name a few - and is quietly making himself a name in Hollywood, Wu-Tang clan member RZA as a member of Crowe's narcotics unit and Cuba Gooding Jr. as a rival drug dealer in Harlem.
Both of the leads are excellent. Washington and Crowe show why they are who they are in the movie industry today. While neither give quite Oscar-worthy performances here, they still are better than most of Hollywood and acting exceptionally is natural to them. The film on a whole on is a shoo-in for a Best Picture nomination. If you happen to go to the movies this weekend, skip that movie about the bee or the one about Santa Claus' funny brother and go straight for this one.
There might not be much love in the heart of the city, but there's more than enough entertainment.
Contact Stephen Ortiz at Stephen.Ortiz@UConn.edu.
The film also features a bevy of top-notch supporting actors including rapper Common, who is beginning to do more work in film, Chiwetel Ejiofor who has been in a few great pictures - the highly underrated "Serenity" and "Four Brothers" to name a few - and is quietly making himself a name in Hollywood, Wu-Tang clan member RZA as a member of Crowe's narcotics unit and Cuba Gooding Jr. as a rival drug dealer in Harlem.
Both of the leads are excellent. Washington and Crowe show why they are who they are in the movie industry today. While neither give quite Oscar-worthy performances here, they still are better than most of Hollywood and acting exceptionally is natural to them. The film on a whole on is a shoo-in for a Best Picture nomination. If you happen to go to the movies this weekend, skip that movie about the bee or the one about Santa Claus' funny brother and go straight for this one.
There might not be much love in the heart of the city, but there's more than enough entertainment.
Contact Stephen Ortiz at Stephen.Ortiz@UConn.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Eshey
posted 11/08/07 @ 7:19 PM EST
This story actually made me to get dressed and go to see this movie.
I'm not a fan of Crowe but I thought he was brilliant in"A Beautiful Mind".On the other hand, Denzel was my favorite actor even before "Malcomb X" plus I was teenager growing up in the 60's so I was excited to read some backround on American Gangster. (Continued…)
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