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美國黑幫 (瑞德利史考特，美，2007)
American Gangster (Ridley Scott, US, 2007)

英國大導演瑞德利史考特首次嘗試以美國為背景的黑幫題材，挑戰改編自真人實事，也呈現不同於「神鬼戰士」、「王者天下」的另一種時代史詩感。

60年代當美國籠罩在參與越戰的陰影下，早已氾濫的毒品問題更加猖獗，在紐約的黑幫界具相當地位的法蘭克盧卡斯，面臨老闆兼恩師過世的處境，必須盡快鞏固自己的勢力，越戰加毒品氾濫正是一個最佳管道。

正直清廉的警探理奇羅勃茲雖毫不猶豫地抵抗萬般金錢誘惑，專注於工作的他卻無法給予自己的家庭幸福，在被委派為緝毒專案小組的探長同時，他也必須應付爭取扶養權的官司。

兩位主要角色在奧斯卡編劇史蒂芬柴利安的描寫下，除了鍥而不捨或凶狠殘暴的表面外，透過對於人物背景的鋪陳，更有他們私下遇到的各種無法兼顧或進退兩難的局面，令觀眾更能了解他們行為背後的動機。

羅素克洛和丹佐華盛頓一路從他們合作的第一部片「Sid 6.7時空悍將」到連續幾屆的奧斯卡影帝入圍，他們第二次合作的本片還是繼續延續這種針鋒相對的形象，但只要是打出他們的名號，就是絕對精采的保證，兩位在片中的表現依然保持一貫的出色水準，加上優秀的整體演出更大大加強本片的看頭。

雖然這是描述一個早已逝去時代的故事，其中的美國社會幫派、毒品氾濫和腐敗濫權官員的現象仍繼續存在著，在忠實呈現一個時代社會風貌和事件的同時，本片也提供了一個相對於現代社會的對照，以及每個人因不同價值觀而造成的必然結果。

The great British director Ridley Scott tried the gangster subject set in US for the first time. He challenged a story based on a true event and presents the different sense of period epic from “Gladiator” and “Kingdom of Heaven.”

When US were covered in the shadow of join the Vietnam War in the 60s, the already-serious problem of drug abuse was even more outrageous. Frank Lucas, who had a high status in the gangster society in New York, faced the death of his boss and mentor and had to build his own foundation of power as soon as possible. The Vietnam War and drug abuse are together the best way.

The just and righteous detective Richie Roberts although resisted the various temptation of money without any doubt, he who focused on work couldn’t give his family happiness. While he was assigned as the leader of the drug investigation squad, he also had to deal with the lawsuit of custody.

Under the written by the Oscar-winning writer Steven Zaillian, except being persistence or brutal on the outside, there’s also the situation of unable to take care both or dilemma the two main characters engaged. It makes audience understand the motivations behind their actions.

All the way from the first co-star movie “Virtuosity” to the Oscar nominations for several years in a row, Russell Crowe and Danzel Washington still keep this image of being opposite to each other in this second co-star film. But as long as where there are the names of them both, where there is the guarantee of absolute brilliance. The performances of them still hold the outstanding standard as usual, and the first-string ensemble acting reinforces the seeing-worthy of this film.

Although it’s a story about a period that had gone away long ago, the phenomenon of gangsters, drug abuse and corrupted, power-abused officials in US still remain nowadays. In the mean time of presenting the society form and event of the time, this movie also provides a comparison compares to the modern society and the consequential results that are resulted by each one’s different values.