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Two Films on American Gangsters

Written by Taryn Shick

Thursday, 08 November 2007

On November 2, American Gangster starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe opened in theaters. On November 9, Mr. Untouchable, a documentary on American gangster Nicky Barnes, opens. Both tell the story of a black man who gains power and respect by way of dealing drugs. However, American Gangster is a dramatization, while Mr. Untouchable is a documentary.
Frank Lucas and Nicky Barnes were considered rivals during the 1970s since both were dealing the same drug – heroin – in the same town – Harlem. Both men were considered to be above the law and for the most part, really were.
Both films examine the lives of these men and how they were affected by the community they lived in and how they affected that community. They made things better with the money and power they gained. But they were also destroying the community with the drugs.
Both films display men who achieved a level of notoriety that, for the time, was remarkable because of their skin color. Their means for reaching that level of notoriety was no doubt questionable, but nevertheless successful.
If you prefer to get lost in a story, see American Gangster. If you prefer to get facts directly from the people who lived it, see Mr. Untouchable.
Or see both just for the sake of comparison. But both films are worthy of viewing as they offer a very interesting tale of fame at a price. .

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