American Gangster (2007)
Biography, Crime, Drama |.
American Gangster is a American biographical crime film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by Steven Zaillian. The film is fictionally based on the criminal career of Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War, before being detained by a task force led by detective Richie Roberts. The film stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in their first lead acting roles together since 1995’s Virtuosity. The film also co-stars Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Norman Reedus, Ruby Dee, Lymari Nadal and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Development for the film initially began in 2000, when Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment purchased the rights to a New York magazine story about the rise and fall of Lucas. Two years later, screenwriter Steven Zaillian introduced a 170-page scriptment to Scott. Original production plans were to commence in Toronto for budget purposes; however, production eventually relocated permanently to New York City. Because of the film’s rising budget Universal canceled production in 2004.
In 1968, Frank Lucas is the right-hand man of Harlem mob boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. When Johnson dies of a heart attack, Lucas takes control of both his criminal empire and the gangland underworld of Harlem.
After handing in almost $1 million that he found in a mobster’s car, Newark detective Richie Roberts is ostracized in his precinct. After his exiled and addicted partner overdoses on a potent brand of heroin called “Blue Magic”, Captain Lou Toback puts Roberts in charge of a task force that targets local suppliers. Lucas buys Blue Magic directly from producers in Thailand and smuggles it into the U.S. through returning Vietnam War servicemen.
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Steven Zaillian, Mark Jacobson (article)
Stars: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Norman Reedus, Ruby Dee, Lymari Nadal
Cast:
| Denzel Washington | … | Frank Lucas |
| Russell Crowe | … | Richie Roberts |
| Chiwetel Ejiofor | … | Huey Lucas |
| Josh Brolin | … | Detective Trupo |
| Lymari Nadal | … | Eva |
| Ted Levine | … | Lou Toback |
| Roger Guenveur Smith | … | Nate |
| John Hawkes | … | Freddie Spearman |
| RZA | … | Moses Jones |
| Yul Vazquez | … | Alfonse Abruzzo |
| Malcolm Goodwin | … | Jimmy Zee |
| Ruby Dee | … | Mama Lucas |
| Ruben Santiago-Hudson | … | Doc |
| Carla Gugino | … | Laurie Roberts |
| Skyler Fortgang | … | Michael Roberts |
| John Ortiz | … | Javier J. Rivera |
| Cuba Gooding Jr. | … | Nicky Barnes |
| Armand Assante | … | Dominic Cattano |
| Kathleen Garrett | … | Mrs. Dominic Cattano |
| Joe Morton | … | Charlie Williams |
| Ritchie Coster | … | Joey Sadano |
| Bari K. Willerford | … | Joe Louis |
| Idris Elba | … | Tango |
| Common | … | Turner Lucas |
| Warner Miller | … | Melvin Lucas |
| Albert Jones | … | Terrence Lucas |
| J. Kyle Manzay | … | Dexter Lucas |
| T.I. | … | Stevie Lucas (as Tip Harris) |
| Melissia Hill | … | Redtop |
| Quisha Saunders | … | Darlynn |
| Kevin Corrigan | … | Campizi |
| Robert Funaro | … | McCann |
| Jon Polito | … | Rossi |
| Tom O’Rourke | … | Banker |
| Robert C. Kirk | … | Police Captain |
| Tom Stearns | … | 2-Star General |
| KaDee Strickland | … | Richie’s Attorney (as Kadee Strickland) |
| Jon DeVries | … | Judge James Racine (as John Devries) |
| Jim R. Coleman | … | Bailiff |
| Lee Shepard | … | Laurie’s Attorney (as Lee Shepherd) |
| Gavin Grazer | … | Mike Sobota |
| Linda Powell | … | Social Worker |
| Roxanne Amandez | … | Paramedic |
| Norman Reedus | … | Detective in Morgue |
| Pierra Francesca | … | Stewardess |
| Eddie Rouse | … | Detective at Party |
| Maryann Urbano | … | Real Estate Broker (as Mary Ann Urbano) |
| Cedric Sanders | … | Serviceman in Cafe |
| Jason Veasey | … | Serviceman in Cafe |
| Roosevelt Davis | … | Army Captain |
| Roger Bart | … | US Attorney |
| Eric Silver | … | White Kid |
| Mitchell Green | … | Tango Bodyguard |
| Saycon Sengbloh | … | Tango’s Woman |
| Conor Romero | … | Tough Teenager |
| Daniel Hilt | … | Tough Teenager |
| Daniel Farcher | … | Tough Teenager |
| David Spearman | … | Civilian Cleaning Staff |
| Maurice Ballard | … | Civilian Cleaning Staff |
| Paul Doherty | … | TV Newscaster |
| William C. Tate | … | Baptist Minister (as William Tate) |
| George Lee Miles | … | Frank’s Lawyer |
| Jason Furlani | … | Bailiff |
| Chris McKinney | … | Reporter on TV |
| Ric Young | … | Chinese General |
| David Wayne Britton | … | Army Colonel |
| Tommy Guiffre | … | Medical Examiner |
| Laurence Lowry | … | Paramedic |
| Dan Moran | … | Army Captain |
| Marjorie Johnson | … | Charlene |
| Larry Mitchell | … | FBI Agent |
| Chuck Cooper | … | Private Doctor |
| Kevin Geer | … | Law School Professor |
| Chance Kelly | … | MP |
| Hamilton Clancy | … | Seller |
| Sam Freed | … | Judge |
| Joey Klein | … | Chemist |
| Scott Dillin | … | 4th Amigo (as Scotty Dillin) |
| Anthony Hamilton | … | Funk Band Singer |
| Sarah Hudnut Brody | … | Assistant Prosecutor (as Sarah Hudnut) |
| Jeff Greene | … | Metal Door Worker |
| Tyson Hall | … | Drug Dealer |
| Kirt Harding | … | Drug Dealer |
| Bryant Pearson | … | Drug Dealer |
| Al Santos | … | Mechanic (as Alfredo Luis Santos) |
| Lil Chuuch | … | Dealer (as William Hudson) |
| Christopher A. Sawyer | … | Dealer |
| Dylan Gallagher | … | Casket Loader |
| Jehan-Pierre ‘The Preacher’ Vassau | … | Narc Officer (as Jehan-Pierre Vassau) |
| Dawn Douglas | … | Narc Officer (as Dawn A. Douglas) |
| Robbie Neigeborn | … | Cop in Narc Headquarters |
| Clinton Lowe | … | Man Arrested in Elevator |
| Wilhelm Lewis | … | Head Wedding Photographer |
| James Hunter | … | Deacon |
| Neville White | … | Deacon |
| Lonnie Gaetano | … | Prison Guard |
| Jeff Mantel | … | Officer Walsh |
| Serena Joan Springle | … | The Proctor |
| Ron Piretti | … | Judge |
| Nino Del Buono | … | Announcer |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia
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