Director Ridley Scott prescribes to the notion that bad mustaches and fake beards signal tone, time and place in this case, Harlem of the late 1960s and early 1970s. This could have destroyed the entire picture making it a silly companion piece to insulting crime opus like Scarface (1983) and lesser ethically mounted but financially expensive films of the type. Fortunately American Gangster does not completely falter. Ridley Scott realizes that the story is the real star and builds a smart and compelling (although reportedly highly fictionalized) narrative for its two protagonists Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts. For the standard DVD this reviewer recommends watching the extended version first then the theatrical cut with the director's comments enabled which negates the pictures rough start and the reviewers initial criticism of the movie. As American Gangster progresses it becomes one of 2007’s best films.
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