The biographical crime drama inspired by the true story of convicted drug trafficker Frank Lucas — and fans say the man playing him is the 'greatest Afro-American actor of all time'08:34, 27 Aug 2026As far as gangster films go, this one is considered an 'underrated' gem as it follows the shocking real life events of a man who was leading a huge drug regime, and ended up behind bars.‌The epic 2007 film retells the unbelievable tales of a sophisticated drug smuggling operation which transported heroin into the United States on aircraft during the Vietnam War.‌Directed by the Hollywood great, Ridley Scott, American Gangster is a biographical crime drama inspired by the criminal exploits of the notorious North Carolina gangster, Frank Lucas.‌He was a famous drug lord, who died in 2019, best known for being the one to 'cut out the middlemen' in the drug trade and buy heroin directly from his source in Southeast Asia. Once caught, the criminal spent the rest of his life in and out of jail for several offences, until he died at 88.While his real-life tale is familiar to many, the film breathes life into it for an epic dramatisation of the extraordinary events. Though Lucas himself claimed that only minor elements of the film were accurate, with much of it being invented for 'dramatic effect'.‌The film chronicles the early days of Frank's ascendancy as he ventures into the heroin business, shrewdly purchasing directly from suppliers in Thailand and trafficking it into America via Vietnam War servicemen heading home.As he rises to become Harlem's foremost crime boss, he begins establishing legitimate enterprises as covers while keeping a modest profile, all the while cultivating friendships with politicians and celebrities. That is until police manage to identify and intercept one of the final aircraft transporting Lucas' supply, ultimately leading to his arrest.At trial, he names a string of corrupt officers in exchange for a more lenient sentence, resulting in three-quarters of the New York DEA and numerous NYPD officers facing conviction.‌Portraying the man himself was none other than Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington, alongside Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, who spearheaded the criminal investigation into the drug smuggling.One admirer of the film shared their thoughts on Washington's performance on IMDb. They said: "Denzel Washington delivers a marvellous performance of a man calm and patient yet heart-stopping ferocious at some points, fearless and ambitious but likable as always.‌"His performances are always incredible, he's a great actor, the greatest Afro-American actor of all time I dare to say, it's simply a pleasure to watch him in any role."Renowned for helming some of cinema's most iconic films across the past three decades, Ridley Scott is the creative force behind Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner and The Martian, as well as this "underrated" gangster picture.Highlighting the film's impact, another review states: "The film leaves you wanting to know more about about happened to the lead characters. You care about them that much. Now *that's* film making."‌Alongside the two principal stars, the film boasts an array of recognisable names, including Josh Brolin, Idris Elba, Carla Gugino and Norman Reedus, forming a varied ensemble that audiences cannot help but commend. In fact, Ruby Dee's portrayal of Frank Lucas's mother earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at that year's Oscars.Another viewer said: "The film is not only entertaining; its portrayal is authentic to the real life grizzly and sometimes grayed world of crime/justice as well as didactic and amazingly...uplifting. What a nice surprise."One fan summed up their thoughts, writing: "A great story, a great director, and a great actor came together, and ultimately made a good movie. With all of these ingredients, it would be hard to fail, and they certainly didn't fail."Article continues belowThis gripping crime drama, American Gangster, hits your television screens tonight, broadcasting on Film4 at 9.10pm.