American Gangster _ about it

Lets be clear...The story is not intended to glorify the gangster lifestyle. Instead it shows what can and will happen when you do wrong. It is a "drive in the fast lane, die on the shoulder" type movie..
The fact that you end up liking the film despite what the gangster has done, is just a human thing really.
Frank Lucas was a family man who loved his wife, took care of his mother and family, was a church going man, intelligent, a researcher, and observer, an elegant man (somewhat).
A man with what seemed to be an even temper (except when someone crossed the business and as they sadi 'business was business).
He did not get caught up in the emotions of others.
He was who he was regardless of what anyone else did. Stable, consistent and constant (except for- you will see in the movie)
Denzel played this brilliantly, and it appealed greatly to my emotional sensibility.

Anyone who can sit quietly and observe, and observe, before jumping in, is obviously a person you want to get to know more about. You want to know how this person thinks, why he thinks that way..he reminds you of yourself in some aspects.

In real life Frank is still very understated...I looked at his eyes in an interview and I heard him speak.
He has been greatly affected by his injury and time in prison. The way he talks now, reminds me of a man who is broken and wants everyone to know that he is still SOMEBODY..one of my favorite lines in the movie was attributed to Frank.
He said: "There are two types of people in this world. You are either Somebody or you are Nobody."

Of course I do not believe this at all, but you can tell that that was where a lot of his motivation as a drug dealer, THE drug dealer came from. where his planning and efforts came from. Can one blame him really? At that time in the US for a black man...I am torn. HE is wrong he did dirt, he contributed to many lives taken. No excuse. On the other hand...persecuted as a young boy for his race...
Look at his eyes though and you can see the smart, intelligent man in there.

I read some of the reviews out there...
I must be judgmental in this case..
Some reviewers are very obtuse...
They see the name American Gangster and assume it must be the Black Godfather.
How unimaginative and unthinking does one have to be, to sit at this movie and not LOOK DEEPLY at the characters.
NOT LOOK PAST the circumstance to the motivation, to the TIME to the SOCIAL history...UGH

Now of course to be nice, I have to say, not everyone will identify with the characters because of different experiences, social class, ethnicity etc etc etc...blah blah blah...
A thinking person will look deeply...Sorry to be so harsh but the movie is worth it
I have to see this movie again.

p.s. The documentary Gangland shows one view with interviews with Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes. Nicky is still really HARD. Frank is more contemplative but not very remorseful..business is business