Minor spoilers.
There are very few character actors left in the entertainment industry who have the grace, style, articulation, and sheer magnetic presence to pull off several character types from good to bad. At the top of the list is the undeniable Denzel Washington.
It took me weeks to forgive Denzel for his part in Training Day. Badass and not in the good sense and what startle me and I’m sure, quite a few others, was how well he fit the role.
Training Day turns out to be a prelude like a training ground of sort for more to come. This time Denzel plays the thug who is smart, stone cold unemotional, a philosopher, and an economist. It seems if the part is right and the story is good, Denzel has no problem playing it. Be damn to stereotyping him. We can now categorize Denzel as the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is one scene with the piano I won’t ever forget. What he did in that scene you would think this man has been practicing being a thug all of his life. We know well how far from the truth this is.
American Gangster is not the Godfather nor is it the Sopranos. The film is also less on the action. The violence controlled to move the story forward and to demonstrate the characters. The story and plot points are very much driven through characterizations, of Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe.) Set in two Point of Views. Two flawed people in a world of darkness, need, hurt, corruption, poverty, preying on the hopeless. One a gangster, the other a cop, morality landing squared in the field of shade of grays.
But really, American Gangster is about Frank Lucas. An audacious black man who’d spent years learning the drug trade under the tutelage of his one and only mentor. It’s about how he takes this knowledge and actually becomes more successful than his mentor, more powerful than the NY Mafia.
Frank Lucas was brilliant. It’s a sorrowful shame he used his talents in such as despicable and deplorable way. And as such, one must pay for the terrible deeds they have done in life.
Go and see American Gangster. It’s a good movie.
Ah, Denzel. Love him.
I’m looking forward to this movie. I saw an interview with Denzel and Russell Crowe last week and the dynamic between the two of them was hysterical. Your review of the movie makes it sound a little like “Donnie Brasco” to me.
I don’t mind seeing Denzel doing “bad guy” work. I think he should go for the best roles, and if it happens that a really great role is one of a bad guy, then I think he should go for it. What I find ridiculous is that Hollywood would recognize him only for the roles in which he plays to stereotype…
You must see this film, T. It’s very good.
You can’t have my man. LOL Even my hubby knows how much I adore Denzel.
I don’t remember much about Donnie Brasco. I think, though, AG had the touch of the Godfather in its theme, now that I’m remembering the body language of Denzel as Frank Lucas and his actions.
Training Day was a shocker to me. I screamed for about a week, poor hubby almost had me committed. Seriously, though, whatever parts he wants to act in, he should get it. He’s an amazing actor.