“American Gangster” chronicles the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin in 1970s Harlem, who bypasses the traditional Mafia distribution system by smuggling heroin directly from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Simultaneously, it follows the relentless pursuit of Lucas by honest detective Richie Roberts, who uncovers Lucas’s vast criminal empire and the widespread corruption within the New York City Police Department. The film contrasts Lucas’s calculated, family-oriented approach to crime with Roberts’s unwavering dedication to justice, showcasing the gritty realities of drug trafficking, police corruption, and the complex moral landscape of the era, culminating in Lucas’s eventual arrest and the exposure of corrupt officials.
The film stars and was included due to heroics of the lead protagonist, Richie Roberts, played by Russel Crowe. Roberts epitomizes honesty and the qualities in honest and courageous law enforcement officers against corruption and injustice. Ultimately good prevails over evil in this film. The movie also conveys redemption as Frank Lucase becomes an informant leading to the arrest of over half of the corrupt officers working in drug enforcement with the NYPD. Ultimately Frank Lucas serves a lesser term and is represented by Richie Roberts himself who becomes a defense attorney after leaving the police force.
