ScreenWize

You have to hand it to Sir Ridley – he sure knows how to make a film. After nailing the science fiction genre (Alien, Blade Runner), the road movie (Thelma & Louise), the war film (Black Hawk Down), and the sword and sandal epic (Gladiator), he has turned his considerable talents to the gangster genre, producing a slick and highly entertaining interpretation of the real life events surrounding the rise and fall of African-American heroin magnate Frank Lucas.

The film opens in 1968 with Frank (Denzel Washington) the driver and bodyguard of an ageing Harlem crime boss Bumpy Johnson. With his dying words, Bumpy moans about how the America of old is disappearing and how the new retail corporations have shrunk the supply chain to deal direct with the manufacturer, eliminating the middlemen. After Bumpy’s funeral, Frank decides that the same principles can work for heroin, and he flies to Thailand to start building his empire, fighting off other contenders for boss of the backstreets.

On the other side of the law is Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), an uncompromising and trustworthy cop working with difficulty in a hugely corrupt police force. As Lucas’ business strategy starts to work and his wealth and profile escalates, he comes to the attention of Roberts’ small narcotics task force. The honest cop must find a way to sidestep his corrupt colleagues led by Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin) and bring down the powerful crime boss.

Director Ridley Scott recreates the feel of the 1970’s with extreme attention to small details, a gritty palette and ample use of television news about the Vietnam war. At times the film is reminiscent of Scorsese’s best work (particularly Goodfellas) but without the passion and flair. Scott takes his time with the story, controlling what’s on the screen carefully, letting things unfold clearly and steadily. He also fleshes out the irony by reference to the contrasting private lives of Lucas and Roberts: the good cop – a womaniser with a broken marriage - has nothing, the black gangster – nobly drawn by Denzel Washington - has it all. It’s a supremely authentic approach to the genre with the highest production values you could find on the screen. With a little more soul, it could have been a absolute classic.

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Filed Under: Reviews by Simon