"American Gangster" Trailer

[j over]

Click here to check out Universal Pictures and Ridley Scott's upcoming "American Gangster", starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin, Carla Gugino, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Dania Ramirez among others. The film opens November 2, 2007.

[nerium]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

Looks pretty sharp. I consider DW watchable in pretty much everything, but visually it's catching my eye. Will have to check it out. The imdb page has some interesting stuff about the changing cast and directors as well as something about DW buying the Lucas guy a Rolls for letting him hang out, which frankly seems a little odd.

[WriteByNight]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

I saw it earlier in the day. Looks good -- and nothing like a Ridley which would be a huge sigh of relief given this kind of urban story. It's one of my most anticipated films of the year.

[roscoegino]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

Trailer is certainly doing the job. Much as like DW, I would have prefered Cheadle in this one. Denzel made such an impression as Alonzo in TRAINING DAY (yes a different picture, a different character but still) that I feel another actor should have a go in a film like this.

[j over]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

and nothing like a Ridley which would be a huge sigh of relief given this kind of urban story.

Really? A lot of the apparent cinematography in it reminded me of the last few recent Ridley Scott efforts (not counting "A Good Year", obviously).


On a side note, I never can understand what it is about the male demographic and mob/mafia stories. "The Godfather", "Goodfellas", "The Sopranos"...I just don't understand what the automatic appeal is of these scenarios. Guess count me as the odd one out for my gender.

[roscoegino]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

On a side note, I never can understand what it is about the male demographic and mob/mafia stories. "The Godfather", "Goodfellas", "The Sopranos"...I just don't understand what the automatic appeal is of these scenarios. Guess count me as the odd one out for my gender.

It's about power in the hands of the underdog. Power accessible to the common (usually ethnic) man who came up from nothing, been treated like s**t. He may not have lived in the best neighborhoods. May not have attended the best schools. But he's out to make it by any means necessary.

It's one of the reasons why blaxploitation films were popular in the early 70s and still maintain healthy cult status. Several of those films shared those themes.

[Pull Back Reveal]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

It's about power in the hands of the underdog. Power accessible to the common (usually ethnic) man who came up from nothing, been treated like s**t. He may not have lived in the best neighborhoods. May not have attended the best schools. But he's out to make it by any means necessary.

You think? I always thought it was Dostoyevskian -- the transgressive hero, the only one who can truly know he's free and self-determined, and, in the case of gangsters, he does it full-time.

[j over]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

I always thought it was Dostoyevskian -- the transgressive hero, the only one who can truly know he's free and self-determined, and, in the case of gangsters, he does it full-time.

Most mobsters don't fit my definition of a hero or "good guy"...guess that's just me, though.

[Pull Back Reveal]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

Most mobsters don't fit my definition of a hero or "good guy"...guess that's just me, though.

Definitely not, most in the audience aren't sociopaths. But, for a couple hours, we get to pretend the rules don't matter. I think that's part of the attraction.

[j over]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

But, for a couple hours, we get to pretend the rules don't matter. I think that's part of the attraction.

Well, I don't know if it's so much about rules as it is about morals. Plus, sociopaths or general murderers of any kind I wouldn't see as attractive.

[roscoegino]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

Well, I don't know if it's so much about rules as it is about morals. Plus, sociopaths or general murderers of any kind I wouldn't see as attractive.

I don't think DeNiro would look desirable in a tight corset either but that's not the point. One of the writer's goals is to make a character's goals, his feelings, so vivid, yet so everyman common that people can connect with him despite his transgressions.

[j over]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

Well, it's hard for me to empathize or connect with a character that does what a mobster usually is involved with. Again, I guess that's just me but usually those kinds of characters are at best interesting antagonists but not people I can really get behind.

[ShaneBlackFan]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

To me they are great protaganists because they have their own moral codes (family comes first, loyalty, friendship), and are essentially dressed up as good guys, always teetering on the edge of a sociopath.

They are ultimate fantasy figures for an audience -- money, glamour, girls, and to be respected. They don't attack innocent people. If they get shot at, they shoot back.

[j over]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

To me they are great protaganists because they have their own moral codes (family comes first, loyalty, friendship), and are essentially dressed up as good guys, always teetering on the edge of a sociopath.

Again, not seeing how a sociopath "dressed up" as a good guy is a great or ultimate protagonist...to each their own, obviously. They may have their own moral code of honor but what they do on the side is what makes them difficult to stand behind.

[Jakkal]

Re: "American Gangster" Trailer

I have no problem watching these characters on screen. The appeal I'll just chalk up to vicariously experiencing the journey from sh!t to alpha male status.

My problem with this film, though, is what's the twist? I think we've seen the ruthless gangster with the unbreakable moral code character one time too many. What does this film do different besides changing the ethnicity of the main character?

Not planning on seeing it at the theatre unless a second trailer gives me a different take on it.