American Gangster

Thursday is my day off and my favorite thing to do is to go to the movies. And so this week - American Gangster. I knew I would like it because I love the whole genre of mob movies - plus Denzel Washington and 'Russell Crowe were in it!

I went with someone who had never seen a mob movie or the Sopranos. There are a lot of elements in this movies that were familiar.

- the Mob Boss as CEO who you find yourself admiring for his discipline and organization
- The Mob Boss with a family - the women who accept the financial benefits and pretend that they don't know where it came from
- the family that is also the weakness with brothers who may betray the boss
- the violence that is always there and can shock you - either a sudden fight at a party or a shocking shot to the head
- the church in the background - this time it was a protestant church and we heard hymns - "A Mighty Fortress, How Great thou Art, Amazing Grace. The mob boss who worships!
- the moral ambiguity with the police who are on the take

The character that Russell Crowe played was a renegade police officer who was not trusted by his colleagues because he was NOT on the take - he had given back a million dollars that he and his partner found in a trunk.
Later he gives up custody of his son, because he realized that his life is not conducive to raising children. Meanwhile the mob boss has a whole loving family around him.

What made this movie different was that now we have an African American Gangster. And so there is an American - "self made man" - shaped by the culture he was raised in. Really a fascinating film.
With great acting!
I not only recommend it - but would see it again.