Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, a disciplined and intelligent black gangster,
runs much of Harlem and imparts his wisdom onto his former driver turned right-hand
man, Frank Lucas. Johnson dies of a heart attack in 1968, at an electronics
store. Frank dislikes the new, flashy gangsters and decides to take control.
To gain money and power, he travels to Bangkok, Thailand, and with the help
of his "cousin" who is an Army Staff NCO, strikes a deal with a Chinese
nationalist general in the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia, who supplies him
with pure heroin. Starting with a first shipment of 100 kilograms, Frank has
the drugs transported back to America via military service planes. His final
shipment comprises two tons hidden in the coffins of seven dead U.S. soldiers
from the Vietnam War.
Meanwhile, Newark, New Jersey detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is juggling
a failing marriage, late-night law school classes, and his police career. When
Richie and his partner, Javier Rivera, discover nearly $1 million in unmarked
bills in a car, Richie resists temptation and turns the money in. His rare honest
ways make him a hated member of his precinct, causing his partner to be exiled
from the force, while Richie's rampant womanizing behavior leads his wife to
seek a divorce and custody of their son. After his exiled partner dies from
overdosing on "Blue Magic", a relatively new (and powerful) type of
heroin being sold, Richie's honesty catches him a break when his superior Captain
Lou Toback (Ted Levine) puts him in charge of a newly created task force to
stop drug trafficking in Essex County, New Jersey. Richie handpicks honest cops
and gets to work on finding who is supplying Blue Magic.
Frank’s unique drug supply enables him to sell pure heroin which he calls
“Blue Magic”, the same heroin that Richie's partner had died from
earlier, at low prices - undercutting his competition which, the film suggests,
is largely heavily cut (diluted) heroin seized in drug busts, stored in police
evidence lockers, then stolen and redistributed by the corrupt narcotics police
officers that made the original bust. Frank quickly makes a fortune and buys
several nightclubs and apartments. He moves his family from North Carolina to
New Jersey, where he purchases a large estate for his humble mother. His five
brothers are enlisted as his lieutenants in the NYC drug trade – forming
“The Country Boys” who work together to traffic and sell dope on
Harlem streets. During his rise, Frank meets and falls in love with Eva, a Puerto
Rican beauty queen. Through his discipline, organization, and willingness to
kill those in his way, Frank quickly rises to the top of the Harlem drug and
crime scene.
As Frank's business prospers, he makes a point of operating quietly and dressing
with a modest conservatism both as a sign of strength and to avoid attracting
the attention of the law. However, Frank disregards this habit for his wife
for one ostentatious night out, attending one of the trilogy of Muhammad Ali
vs. Joe Frazier boxing matches with several known mobsters in a gaudy chinchilla
fur coat and hat, along with a ring-side seat. As it happens, Roberts is on
duty observing the event and sees this unknown, but obviously wealthy, person
associating with high-level criminals, as well as having better seats than the
Italian mafia. Roberts becomes suspicious, and he begins to investigate this
unknown (to him) figure in New York organized crime.
Cast : Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor,
Josh Brolin, Carla Gugino, Clifford Harris
Studio/Banner : Big Music
Format : DVD
Language : English |
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