An American Godfather
After watching American Gangster, probably the best movie of the year, I could not help but compared it with another classic gangster movie –the Godfather. Both movies depict the criminal underworld. That there can be respect, and organization within criminal activity is a truly fascinating phenomenon. And we love seeing the oxymoron play out before us because it’s both frightening and seductive. However, this movie presents an interesting parallel; the parallel stories of Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts who, while on opposing sides of the law, draw equal appeal from the audience. Should we care about a gentlemanly gangster who is as likely to blow an enemy’s head off as he is to sip fine cognac and tip his hat to the presence of a woman? Should we feel disdain for a slovenly police officer who cheats on his wife, yet refuses to fall into the corrupt ways of his fellow officers? This chilling irony is at the heart of the story that plays out as both a police procedural and a gangster drama.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Really, you consider American Gangster the best movie of the year?? I think of it as an insult to the Godfather to mention American Gangster in the same sentence. Well then I think we’re looking at the movie in two different ways. I looked at it in terms of entertainment and presentation, compared to your view of the message/theme of the movie.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:00 am
I thought that American Gangster wasn’t the best movie ever made either. I had high hopes for the movie considering that Denzel Washington starred in it, but I thought that the movie was way too long and the story dragged on and on. I thought that this movie had potential, but it didn’t turn out so well.