American Gangster

Movie review by Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
American Gangster Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Violent, drug-fueled drama isn't for kids.

R 2007 157 minutes
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 12 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this based-on-a-true story drama about a brutal 1970s gangster isn't for kids. He commits extremely violent acts, which are depicted explicitly (often with guns) and accompanied by blood, wounds, and groaning. And since the plot focuses on heroin smuggling and dealing, there are many shots of junkies and drug use (including needles in arms, cocaine being snorted, and more). Sexual content includes scenes with prostitutes, kissing, bare breasts, and cleavage, and there's plenty of language, including almost 100 uses of "f--k."

Community Reviews

doctora
doctora Adult
November 4, 2022
age 17+

Morally ambiguous, well-acted and well-directed film with some heavy violence

A solid and pretty great film that Ridley Scott maneuvers deftly. In the hands of someone else this could have gone quite poorly. But with Scott you have finesse, especially in the more elaborate scenes and then those super interesting scenes of just people talking, but with so much skill and high narrative stakes that although the film is long it does not drag. Who is the American Gangster? It seems that there are many responses throughout the film to this question. Scott portrays murky morality and allows the audience to decide. Well acted, well scripted and very well directed. And Ruby Dee's performance! She makes a lot out of a little!
Banana wannna
Banana wannna Adult
September 28, 2019
age 18+

Good but very violent crime drama

This is a movie worth wacthing but contains stron violence and very hard drug use plus stron laungage.Best for adults only

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on a true story and set in the mid-70s, AMERICAN GANGSTER centers on NYC heroin kingpin Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), an upright-to-a-fault detective intent on putting the ruthless gangster behind bars. Frank and Richie's relationship is complicated throughout the film; they're opposite but also linked. Both their self-images are grand: Frank rules NYC's drug underworld, and Richie turns in $1 million worth of drug money rather than keep it for himself. But while Frank surrounds himself with devoted family members, Richie is alone, rejected by his wife (Carla Gugino) and his fellow cops, who call him out as a "boy scout." Ambitious and politically astute, Frank sees his success as a representation of black progress. Richie's path is less sensational, more movie-style earnest. He and his hardworking undercover crew discover Frank's business precisely because Richie isn't as racist as his superiors, who don't believe that a black man could outscore the Italian mafia at their own game.

Is It Any Good?

The problem at the center of Ridley Scott's film is that as much as the movie loves Frank's intelligence and charisma, it must also condemn his brutality and criminality. The movie's solution is typical: It pits Frank against worse villains and puts him on a parallel track with a familiar hero.

Still, as the film scrambles to its end (the last half hour moves very quickly), the two develop a mutual respect. In part, this is a function of Richie's liberal bent. He'll not only arrest a black man, he'll also work with him ... to build cases against a lot of other bad guys. And so they share a sort of moral code after all, premised on their recognition of racial equality. As corny as this relationship may be, it returns again to the movie's central problem: It loves Frank and has to hate him.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the movie glamorizes criminal behavior. How is Frank both villainous and attractive? How does the film compare and contrast him to Richie, who's upright on the job but not a good husband? Families can also discuss the fact that the movie is based on a true story. How accurate do you think it is? Why do filmmakers sometimes tweak the facts when they're making biopics or movies based on actual events?

Movie Details

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