Denzel ruined this movie
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — American Gangster
Black_Lies_Matter — 13 years ago(April 15, 2012 04:10 PM)
It was almost like he was a caricature of himself. The well-written scene near the end where's he's making a deal with Crowe and slaps the cup was just painful to watch. And the "my man's" have to be one of the cheesiest techniques ever employed by an actor.
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rannedwards — 13 years ago(June 10, 2012 03:28 AM)
C/S 100%
"My Man" was perfectly appropriate and exactly as it was at that time.
What I've found is the fact that it bothers so many people just how far Frank Lucas rose and rose above the "traditional family" (lol) of criminalsthe "eyetalians". Everybody gives the italians and cubans their props, but it is disturbing just how many are offended at how far up the ladder Fran lucas ascended. Frank Lucas did represent progress and had to be stopped and/or destroyed. Frank Lucas took what he had and was giving back into the neighborhoods. That is what drug dealers did back then. They also looked out for and took care of the residents in the hood. THIS is family value, but I guess not all families are created/treated "equal". Some families, as egregiously criminal as Black offenders are considered better somehow and giving a pass because they are doing it to support their "families". Well, so are Black criminals, but they are not given to same respect. They are considered just thieves. smh. -
Errington_92 — 13 years ago(August 26, 2012 11:44 AM)
Have to disagree with the OP. Washington's performance was one where in each scene he makes his presence felt, which was an important aspect to his character.
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not". -
mel_anie_98 — 13 years ago(September 19, 2012 06:44 PM)
I think the slap of the cup was beautiful! And when Russell Crowe replaced it with his ownpriceless. That's one of my favorite parts of the whole movie.
Although well-placed, the "my man" comments got on my nerves a bit. But this is only the second movie he did them in; the first was Training Day, and I think the producers and directors of this film had him do it because the fans loved it so much in Training Day. -
bcamphome — 11 years ago(March 30, 2015 11:01 AM)
A man like Frank Lucas was hungry,
hungry for more
! Denzel is too well-bred, too well-nourished and too comfortable to look hungry. I never bought him in the role. He's a good actor and plays the scenes well, like a good movie star should. But he he didn't have the hardened soul of Frank Lucas. Yes, I understand that you need a star of Denzel's magnitude to get this movie financed and to make the subject matter palatable to a mass audience, but it wasn't authentic. People who have no interest in authenticity (the majority of the audience) don't seem to mind.
Also, Denzel is way too handsome for the part. Have you SEEN what Lucas looked like back then? -
Darkside7 — 9 years ago(May 02, 2016 06:04 PM)
Yeah, they coulda hired an ugly dog face no-name mut that resembled Lucas more With the risk of ruining the movie in its entirety because the guy couldn't act nor was the audience able to stomach looking at him for 2 hours straight They did right with banking on Washington. He did a number of his trick-acting routine techniques, but he pulled off the essence of being a drug lord considerably.
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MarkAntney — 9 years ago(July 02, 2016 05:07 AM)
To answer your Frank Lucas "Looks" comment;
LIFE in general but especially in HollyWood.
All PEOPLE with $$$$s are Good Looking.
IMAGINE how much better looking Michael Jordan became AFTER he left UNC for the Chicago Bulls?