American Gangster follows the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, the real-life Harlem-based mobster who created a heroin empire in the late-'60s and early-'70s. Denzel Washington stars as Lucas, who smuggles the drug into the U.S. via returning soldiers from the Vietnam War; meanwhile, Newark detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is tasked with investigating the source of the spreading drug problem and sets his sights on Lucas and his associates. While some elements of the plot are fictionalized for dramatic effect, EW's critic notes that the film is "meticulous and detailed, a drug-world epic that holds you from moment to moment, immersing you in the intricate and sleazy logistics of crime." Veteran actress Ruby Dee scored an Oscar nomination for her short but impactful performance as Lucas' mother. —K.J.
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