American Gangster (DVD, 2008, 2-Disc Set)

This film was recommended by a good many of my friends so I bought it sight unseen and I'm happy I did. Denzel Washington is one of those actors who never seems to be stretching himself, i.e. he always seems to be playing the same or similar characters but he does it in convincing ways. This is not necessarily a bad thing--the same could be said about Spencer Tracey. As the film is based on a true story, the plot is all that more compelling. Russell Crowe does a nice job of bringing his character home as well--a guy that is addicted to honesty as much as Washington's is to corruption--both of them to a fault. The study of both makes the film fascinating as it relies on both delivering their good vs. evil (and evil vs. good--neither is black nor white) characters in ways that make us see ourselves in them.