MP4-12C on Flickr.
Via Flickr:
Such a Beautiful car!
I have watched numerous movies over the years, but none have stood out to me more than the movie American Gangster. Frank Lucas played by Denzel Washington started out as a limo driver for his boss [Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson]. Bumpy liked Lucas and taught him everything he knew. Soon Lucas went from being Bumpy’s driver to Bumpy’s right hand man. After the passing of his former boss, Lucas decided to take over the gang for himself because he dislikes the flashy gangsters who were supposed to be next in like to take over Harlem. Lucas sunk his teeth into the drug market and began to grow his drug empire. By selling a stronger and cheaper version of heroin [Blue Magic] Lucas was able to undersell his competition by cutting out the middle man and dealing directly with his source in Thailand.
Meanwhile a detective Richie Roberts was struggling to balance a failing marriage, late night law school classes, and his police career. Richie and his former partner Javier Rivera previously found one million dollars in unmarked bills. However, do to his rare honestly he resisted taking the money and decided to turn it in. Although honestly is a good characteristic, in Richie’s case it made him hated within his precinct, and also got his partner exiled from the force. Soon after being exiled Javier was found dead from an overdose on “Blue Magic”. Detective Richie Roberts finally caught a break and was put in charge of a newly created tasked force whose purpose was to find who is suppling the “Blue Magic”.
The reason I found this movie so interesting is because it took place in a city near where I grew up. Also it showed how even a simple limo driver can become someone so powerful with a little guidance, and determination. Even though Frank Lucas rose into power through the use of drugs I still find him admirable because he was still able to achieve his version of the American dream. While to outsiders he is known as a drug dealer and a cold blooded killer at home he is known as a devoted husband and a loving son.
This movie is filled with hardcore action, heart pounding suspense, as well as seat clenching drama. This is one of the movies where if i see it on television I have to flip to that channel and watch it. The reason I chose this movie is because it is about a man living mobster lifestyle during an era where men would handle there own problems in there own way and take responsibility for their own actions. Also because this showed a man taking control of a situation, and turning it into a financial boom for himself even if it is done illegally.
