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GRADE: B+

With “American Gangster” Ridley Scott delivers a solid, riveting, no-frills portrait of a cop and the mobster he’s trying to catch. But in the end this film offers nothing new to the “gangster movie” genre. At the very least “American Gangster” is a great title: clean, slick, commercial and a perfect fit for the product. The only thing that makes this movie stand out is the pitch perfect acting by its two leads.

“American Gangster” is based on the life of drug-kingpin-turned-informant, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington). Lucas became a heroin kingpin by traveling to Asia’s Golden Triangle to make connections, shipping heroin back to the US in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. Lucas eventually outplays all of the leading crime syndicates and becomes not only one of the city’s mainline corrupters, but part of its circle of legit civic superstars.

Just as soon as he starts to make upwards of one million dollars a day in drug sales, Lucas is suddenly shadowed by lawman, Richie Roberts, who finally helps bring the kingpin to justice. The two then eventually work together to expose the crooked cops and foreign nationals who made importing heroin so easy.

Russell Crowe plays Richie Roberts, an outcast cop close enough to the streets to feel a shift of control in the drug underworld. Both Lucas and Roberts share a rigorous ethical code that sets them apart from their own colleagues, making them lone figures on opposite sides of the law. Watching both of these characters struggle with there station in life is what gives this film its edge.

“Gangster” may not be Ridley Scott’s “Godfather”, but it’s certainly as close as he’s ever going to get. If anything, watching Oscar winners Crowe and Washington on screen together is a film lovers dream. They both have a searing intensity that lights up the screen. I am not sure why Ruby Dee (who plays Lucas’ mom) received a nomination by the Academy this year, her role was pretty pathetic. In summary, I say check this movie out if you like the familiar sounding plot and want to see some great acting.