Watch American Gangster

American Gangster is a crime drama movie that came out in 2007. It is a movie that covers the life of a drug kingpin named Frank Lucas. During the movie viewers get to witness the rise and fall of one of the most powerful drug kingpins in Harlem. Lucas originally was a driver and bodyguard for another kingpin who later died of a heart attack in a store. As a result he took over the operation and began his own. At the same time a detective is looking to investigate and bring down Lucas. Frank Lucas lives a privileged life while he is a successful drug kingpin. In the end he is finally brought down and was sentenced to over a decade in prison. However he was released in the early 1990’s.

The movie takes place in New York City and the surrounding area. A drug kingpin is in charge of selling heroin to many people and is connected to the mob. He is very successful and powerful while being aided by his protégé named Frank Lucas. While at a store, the kingpin has a heart attack and therefore Lucas takes over the operation. During his takeover he starts his own operation and begins to become more powerful. He visits Southeast Asia to meet with a heroin distributor and asks for a large amount of heroin. The heroin drug lord is shocked to get such a request but gives Lucas what he wants. What made Lucas get a pure source of heroin into the United States was the help of American Vietnam War personnel smuggling the drugs in coffins of dead soldiers. Lucas began to prosper and become very wealthy. While he was at his peak he was able to get to know celebrities, athletes and also got to know the Harlem community. His charitable activities helped get lots of support from them.

At the same time a detective in the area is investigating drug distribution and looking to find out who is distributing a very potent kind of heroin. After his partner was looking to rob someone for money to buy heroin he loses trust. The partner dies shortly after this incident. During this time he also has strained relations with his wife as she realizes that he has no time to spend with her and their son. She is also aware that he is having numerous romantic and sexual relationships with other women including his own lawyer. Lucas later brings up his mother and brothers to move to the Northeast where he buys his mother a house. He also enlists his brothers in his organization as well. He also meets a woman and eventually marries her.

Despite all of this good fortune, his drug dealing activities get discovered and corrupt New York City detectives begin demanding bribes to avoid prosecution. Over time, the detective eventually finds out about Lucas and his activities and brings him down. In the end Lucas is arrested and faces life in prison unless he helps the detective who is now a district attorney/prosecutor find all of those involved in Lucas’ drug smuggling and distribution operations. An epilogue is then shown and Lucas is let out of prison in 1991.