An interesting allegory on police corruption
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — American Gangster
q_leo_rahman — 10 years ago(December 06, 2015 09:51 AM)
As a telling of real-life events, this film is wildly off the mark, but on its own it makes a very interesting fable on police corruption.
Firstly, theres the underworld angle. Some of the Mafioso comment that times have changed, that from owning the town and keeping the cops in line theyre now being bullied about by cops and trying to earn a living without incurring
Then, theres the police angle. Basically, these cops milk the crooks for money and then dispose of them like trash, doing whatever they want, confident in their privileged position that no one will/can do anything against them, and contemptuous of the honest policemen like Roberts who try to live under honest rules. Roberts himself was ostracized from the normal cop community for refusing a bribe, a noble act but one that didn't get him any respect.
Both angles come to a head when Frank Lucas comes under assault from both crooks and cops; one of the crooks put out a hit on him, and the major crooked cops (represented by Trupo) wanted his money and stole it from him; while a few cops (represented by Roberts) were closing in on him slowly but steadily.
In the end, both sides went too far with Frank. He couldnt trust any of the crooks he'd worked with, and he definitely wasn't going to support the crooks after what they did; compared to them, Roberts's integrity and honesty impressed him enough to put his trust and cooperation with him. Together, they took down all the crooks and all the cops (causing Trupo to commit suicide). Lesson learned.
Moral: don't get too greedy or try for too much, cause others will either come for you or try to kill you for your gains.
07/08/06 786 the sentinel of Allah has arrived. -
bohunkchicklet — 9 years ago(December 09, 2016 08:46 AM)
You do know that was fiction don't you?
No cop killed themselve. Richie wasn't the main detective that brought Lucus down and no cops were indicted.
Also, Richie says himself that he wasn't alienated by other officers for turning in the money.
It would take me hours to write all the fiction that was in this movie.
It was a good movie, it just wasn't accurate at all. They just took the real Frank Lucus at his word and all he did was lie and exaggerate. -
ridge-m-1 — 9 years ago(December 11, 2016 07:11 AM)
"Police corruption" is certainly no fable and is the hallmark of police forces in large urban areas as well as small since the beginning of the Republic. One might suggest you view a more accurate depiction in the film "Serpico".