Maxwell's American Gangster Review

In my eyes this was a fantastic movie. It tells the true story of an African American gangster Franc Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, and his unexpected rise to the top of the America drug world during the 70’s. Denzel Washington was truly fantastic in this movie. As the leading role, Denzel portrayed exactly the type of person Frank Lucas was. In the opening scene we see a man covered in his own blood tied to a chair with gasoline being pored on him. Then Denzel lights his cigar and tosses the lighter igniting the man into flames. Denzel then proceeds to put four bullets in the man’s head. This portrayed how much of a hard ass he is. In another important scene at Frank Lucas’ boss Bumpy Johnson dies you see Frank taking care of Bumpy’s things by placing a coaster under someone’s cup, this shows Franks loyalty and respect to his boss even when he is dead. In this same scene a gangster asks Frank to find him a lighter after he put a coaster under his cup. This was a sign of disrespect to Frank, telling him he is no better than servant. This same man disrespects Frank again when he asks for Frank to work for as a driver. No one believed Frank was going to make it anywhere in the drug world now that Bumpy was gone, but frank had an idea that was so brave and risky that  no one was crazy enough to do the same. Frank Lucas travelled to Thailand where he bought directly from the source, buying pure 100% heroin. Because of the war in Vietnam frank was able to smuggle heroin into the states through dead soldier’s caskets.

The ending of this movie was superb. The climax of the movie takes place as a major gun fight in an apartment where Frank Lucas packaged heroin, this is where Frank’s empire ends abruptly. After taking his mother to church like he always does on Sundays, Frank was arrested just outside the church doors. Frank preceded top give up all the corrupt cops in the New York Police Department. The closing scene showed Frank exiting the jail 17 years later. This was my favorite scene, as the gate closes behind him the aged man looks at a world once familiar to him.