Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Partly based on a true story.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- Frank Lucas: Denzel Washington
- Richie Roberts: Russell Crowe
- Huey Lucas: Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Detective Trupo: Josh Brolin
- Lou Toback: Ted Levine
- Eva: Lymari Nadal
- Freddie Spearman: John Hawkes
- Moses Jones: RZA
- Nate: Roger Guenveur Smith
- Mama Lucas: Ruby Dee
- Dominic Cattano: Armand Assante
- Javier J. Rivera: John Ortiz
- Tango: Idris Elba
- Turner Lucas: Common
- Laurie Roberts: Carla Gugino
- Charlie Williams: Joe Morton
- Nicky Barnes: Cuba Gooding Jr.
- Joey Sadano: Ritchie Coster
- Rossi: Jon Polito
- Campizi: Kevin Corrigan
- Alfonso Abruzzo: Yul Vazquez
- Jimmy Zee: Malcolm Goodwin
- Chinese General: Ric Young
- US Attorney: Roger Bart
- Stevie Lucas: T.I.
- Richie’s Attorney: KaDee Strickland
- Doc: Ruben Santiago-Hudson
- Detective in Morgue: Norman Reedus
- Mrs. Dominic Cattano: Kathleen Garrett
- Terrence Lucas: Albert Jones
- Dexter Lucas: J. Kyle Manzay
- Redtop: Melissia Hill
- Michael Roberts: Skyler Fortgang
- Joe Louis: Bari K. Willerford
- Melvin Lucas: Warner Miller
- Darlynn: Quisha Saunders
- McCann: Robert Funaro
- Banker: Tom O’Rourke
- Police Captain: Robert C. Kirk
- 2-Star General: Tom Stearns
- Judge James Racine: Jon DeVries
- Bailiff: Jim R. Coleman
- Laurie’s Attorney: Lee Shepherd
- Mike Sobota: Gavin Grazer
- Social Worker: Linda Powell
- Paramedic: Roxanne Amandez
- Stewardess: Pierra Francesca
- Detective at Party: Eddie Rouse
- Real Estate Broker: Maryann Urbano
- Serviceman in Cafe: Cedric Sanders
- Serviceman in Cafe: Jason Veasey
- Army Captain: Roosevelt Davis
- White Kid: Eric Silver
- Tango’s Woman: Saycon Sengbloh
- Tough Teenager: Conor Romero
- Tough Teenager: Daniel Hilt
- Tough Teenager: Daniel Farcher
- Civilian Cleaning Staff: David Spearman
- Civilian Cleaning Staff: Maurice Ballard
- Newscaster: Paul Doherty
- Baptist Minister: William C. Tate
- Frank’s Lawyer: George Lee Miles
- Bailiff: Jason Furlani
- Reporter on TV: Chris McKinney
- Army Colonel: David Wayne Britton
- Medical Examiner: Tommy Guiffre
- Paramedic: Laurence Lowry
- Army Captain: Dan Moran
- Charlene: Marjorie Johnson
- FBI Agent: Larry Mitchell
- Private Doctor: Chuck Cooper
- Law School Professor: Kevin Geer
- MP: Chance Kelly
- Seller: Hamilton Clancy
- Judge: Sam Freed
- Chemist: Joey Klein
- 4th Amigo: Scott Dillin
- Funk Band Singer: Anthony Hamilton
- Assistant Prosecutor: Sarah Hudnut
- Metal Door Worker: Jeff Greene
- Drug Dealer: Tyson Hall
- Drug Dealer: Kirt Harding
- Drug Dealer: Bryant Pearson
- Mechanic: Al Santos
- Dealer: William Hudson
- Dealer: Christopher A. Sawyer
- Casket Loader: Dylan Gallagher
- Narc Officer: Jehan-Pierre ‘The Preacher’ Vassau
- Narc Officer: Dawn A. Douglas
- Cop in Narc Headquarters: Robbie Neigeborn
- Man Arrested in Elevator: Clinton Lowe
- Head Wedding Photographer: Wilhelm Lewis
- Deacon: James Hunter
- Deacon: Neville White
- Prison Guard: Lonnie Gaetano
- Officer Walsh: Jeff Mantel
- The Proctor: Serena Joan Springle
- Judge: Ron Piretti
- Announcer: Nino Del Buono
- Policeman: Panama Redd
- Referee: Arthur M. Mercante
- Smalls Patron: Fab 5 Freddy
- Store Manager: Jonah Denizard
- Mounted Policeman: Steve McAuliff
- Helicopter Pilot: Bill Richards
- Dancer: Fatima Robinson
- Dancer: Celestine Rae
- Dancer: Monique Lea-Gall
- Dancer: Shannon MacMillan
- Dancer: Latonya Tolbert
- Dancer: Cicily Daniels
- Singer: Sandra Park
- Singer: Yuri Kamino-Fennell
- Spectator (uncredited): Brian Albanese
- Narc Squad Detective (uncredited): Brian Keith Allen
- Thug #4 (uncredited): Ephraim Benton
- Red Carpet Walker (uncredited): Myo Campbell
- Cop #1 (uncredited): John Cenatiempo
- Narc Officer in Hallway (uncredited): J.W. Cortes
- Frank McNamara (uncredited): Cris D’Annunzio
- Hustler (uncredited): Ernest Dancy
- Undercover Cop (uncredited): Michael Den Dekker
- Soldier (uncredited): Mark DiConzo
- Student (uncredited): Kevin van Doorslaer
- Club Dancer (uncredited): Monique Dupree
- Gangster at Funeral (uncredited): Joseph Ferrante
- Hallway Guy (uncredited): Eddie Goines
- Drug room door security (uncredited): Kelvin Hale
- Mechanic Drug Dealer (uncredited): Gabriel Hansen
- Kid gangster #1 (uncredited): Jermel Howard
- Bookie / Soldier (uncredited): Hristo Hristov
- Frank Lucas Bodyguard (uncredited): Atif Lanier
- Harlem Junkie (uncredited): Tina Lorraine
- Mobster (uncredited): Artie Pasquale
- Mobster (uncredited): Nick Poltoranin
- Building Maintenance Guy (uncredited): Kevin Pinassi
- Teenage Vandal (uncredited): Louis Rosario
- Maid of Honor (uncredited): Paula Rittie
- Bookkeeper (uncredited): Billy Smith
- Nicky’s Girl (uncredited): Aija Terauda
- Diana Ross (uncredited): Tammy Vaughn
- Skeet Shoot Handler (uncredited): Philippe Vonlanthen
- Bumpy Johnson (uncredited): Clarence Williams III
- Trupo’s detective in library (uncredited): Brad Lee Wind
- Photographer (uncredited): Ray Wineteer
- Marie Saldano (uncredited): Frances Mignano
Film Crew:
- Casting: Avy Kaufman
- Producer: Brian Grazer
- Producer: Ridley Scott
- Executive Producer: Branko Lustig
- Costume Design: Janty Yates
- Production Design: Arthur Max
- Editor: Pietro Scalia
- Executive Producer: Steven Zaillian
- Co-Producer: Jonathan Filley
- Set Decoration: Leslie E. Rollins
- Executive Producer: Nicholas Pileggi
- Director of Photography: Harris Savides
- Set Decoration: Beth A. Rubino
- Sound Effects Editor: Dino Dimuro
- Sound Effects Editor: Christopher Assells
- Supervising Sound Editor: Per Hallberg
- Art Direction: Nicholas Lundy
- Second Unit Director: Alexander Witt
- Writer: Mark Jacobson
- Executive Producer: Michael Costigan
- Executive Producer: Jim Whitaker
- Original Music Composer: Marc Streitenfeld
- Thanks: Muhammad Ali
- ADR Recordist: Rick Canelli
- Thanks: Joe Frazier
- ADR Recordist: Craig Kyllonen
- Color Timer: David Orr
- Utility Stunts: John Cenatiempo
- Dialogue Editor: Kimaree Long
- Camera Operator: Craig Haagensen
- Steadicam Operator: Larry McConkey
- First Assistant Editor: Billy Rich
- Music Editor: Del Spiva
- Stunt Coordinator: G. A. Aguilar
- Stunts: David Gere
- Foley Artist: John Roesch
- Set Costumer: Hartsell Taylor
- Sound Effects Editor: Jon Title
- Dialogue Editor: Frederick H. Stahly
- Makeup Artist: Felice Diamond
- Makeup Artist: Carl Fullerton
- ADR Mixer: Douglas Murray
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Bob Beemer
- Foley Artist: Alyson Dee Moore
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Minkler
- Production Coordinator: Angela Quiles
- ADR Editor: Michelle Pazer
- Post Production Supervisor: Teresa Kelly
- Supervising Sound Editor: Karen Baker Landers
- Sound Effects Editor: Peter Staubli
- Unit Publicist: Rob Harris
- ADR Editor: Chris Hogan
- Sound Effects Editor: Dan Hegeman
- Supervising ADR Editor: Chris Jargo
- Hairstylist: Bert Reo Anderson
- Hair Department Head: Kenneth Walker
- ADR Mixer: Howard London
- Foley Mixer: Mary Jo Lang
- Script Supervisor: Mary A. Kelly
- Casting Associate: Elizabeth Greenberg
- ADR Mixer: Beauxregard Neylon
- Music Supervisor: Kathy Nelson
- Still Photographer: David Lee
- Property Master: Peter Gelfman
- Production Sound Mixer: William Sarokin
- Boom Operator: George Leong
- Art Department Coordinator: Julia G. Hickman
- Stunts: Gabriel Hansen
- Grip: Matt Blades
- First Assistant Director: Darin Rivetti
- ADR Mixer: Thomas J. O’Connell
- Second Assistant Director: Noreen R. Cheleden
- Production Assistant: Patrick Tendai Pfupajena
Movie Reviews:
- Andres Gomez: Quite a disappointed since it is really as much as you expect, but nothing new.
Washington and Russell perform really well, so, as a characters movie, it works. It doesn’t work at all as a biopic. Too much Hollywood on it.
- r96sk: A thoroughly entertaining 157 minutes!
‘American Gangster’ delivers in every area it needs to. Enthralling premise, immaculate music, phenomenal casting and great pacing. I was surprised slightly with how it finishes, but it’s far and away from a disappointing/underwhelming conclusion.
Not much really needs to be said about Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. They’re exactly how you’d expect them to be, outstanding! Washington is fantastic as Frank, while Crowe is superb as Richie. You have to wait a while for their proper screen time together, but it’s worth the time it takes.
Away from the leads, you have a load of recognizable faces – I was literally that Rick Dalton meme for the first 45-60 mins! Chiwetel Ejiofor (Huey) and Josh Brolin (Trupo) have sizeable roles, though there’s also appearances from Carla Gugino (Laurie), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Nicky), Idris Elba (Tango) and Norman Reedus (Norman). Excellent casting, that!
I was expecting slow moments due to the run time, but there aren’t any – at least in my opinion. As noted, the way it ends is a tad differently to how I would’ve predicted, but I still enjoyed it alongside the rest of the it.
It might not be accurate on the real life Frank Lucas, but all that truly matters is does it excel as a film? Yes it does. Highly recommend!