The Institute (協会)

I want to see this one... two phenomenal actors. I don't know that I've seen a single Denzel movie that wasn't well done.

This movie has really peaked my interest. It looks amazing.

To answer your question, Anthony, I think it's because of the sense of camaraderie that they portray. I mean, sitting around the family dinner table at Thanksgiving when Michael Corleone is talking about going straight, that's the sort of family life that you wish more families had (obviously minus the racketeering).

George Will points out one of the movie's premises: "In 'The Godfather,' bloody murders of Michael Corleone's rivals occur while the movie cuts back and forth from the mayhem to him in church. In 'American Gangster,' brutalities ordered by Frank Lucas are carried out as he brings a turkey on a platter to a table around which his extended family has gathered in a Thanksgiving tableau that mimics a famous Norman Rockwell painting. Message: Morality can be compartmentalized; family values can coexist with criminality."

The rest of the review is fantastic. It's available here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110702075.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

tuscOn, said: "To answer your question, Anthony, I think it's because of the sense of camaraderie that they portray."

Wow, bro, I think you nailed it for me. It's probably one of the biggest things is missing among men in the church and in my life as well. This is an amazing insight.

-anthony

Yeah, I wish I had more of it too. We need to work at creating it. Chesterton talks about camaraderie in his book "What's Wrong With The World" (which is available online nowadays). He is so eloquent that I can merely quote at some length:

"Comradeship is at the most only one half of human life; the other half is Love, a thing so different that one might fancy it had been made for another universe. And I do not mean mere sex love; any kind of concentrated passion, maternal love, or even the fiercer kinds of friendship are in their nature alien to pure comradeship. Both sides are essential to life; and both are known in differing degrees to everybody of every age or sex. But very broadly speaking it may still be said that women stand for the dignity of love and men for the dignity of comradeship. I mean that the institution would hardly be expected if the males of the tribe did not mount guard over it. The affections in which women excel have so much more authority and intensity that pure comradeship would be washed away if it were not rallied and guarded in clubs, corps, colleges, banquets and regiments. Most of us have heard the voice in which the hostess tells her husband not to sit too long over the cigars. It is the dreadful voice of Love, seeking to destroy Comradeship."

Oh yeah.. I really want to see this movie. I don't know how it ends, but I would have to believe the bad guy (good guy) doesnt get live happily ever after. I love movies that depict mans depravity. One of the reasons why I absolutely love P.T Anderson films (Magnolia, Boogie Nights, etc.)

You and George Will have put this film on my to see list. Will’s comment “Message: Morality can be compartmentalized; family values can coexist with criminality.”

I saw this movie the night it came out and I left the theater slightly disappointed. It was somewhat entertaining, but I attribute that solely to Denzel and Russel's fantastic acting. Truth is, I'm sick of drug lords being glamorized by Hollywood executives. Denzel alwasy demands respect on the screen, so I'm sure many people left the theater wanting to follow in his footsteps. A major problem with Gangster is that it barely portrays the destruction that Frank Lucas caused in Harlem. It simply concentrates on the rise and fall of a charismatic mob boss. It's disturbing that Scarface, Goodfellas, Godfather, American Gangster, etc. are qualified as some of the greatest films ever. America has a sick view of the American Dream. How's being happy (not rich) for a dream?

If you liked this movie, you'll also probably like the WIRE. If you haven't seen it or heard of it, I highly recommend it. It's an HBO series about the drug trade in Baltimore. Having gone to school in that area, and having grown up in a not so great part of Philly, I've loved watching it. It's one of the most realistic depictions of the ghetto (not cheesy, overdone, poorly written, like many). While it is set in modern day unlike American Gangster (which was an amazing movie), it involves a lot of the same elements. Kingpin. The drug BUSINESS. Dealings with the law. Politics. Etc. I started watching it this past summer and literally could not stop. In fact the guy that played Tango is one of the most prominent characters on the show. Anyways, I loved AG, and it took me back to a lot of things I remember seeing on The Wire...so check it out.

I am sure that this is a great movie; however, I hear it has nudity in it and to be real, I don't want to see nobody's body but my wife's.

Be careful recommending movies that have nudity in it. Some people take two steps backwards after viewing films like that. At least warn your audience first.

Please don't take this as disrespect. Nine times out of ten, I agree with you 100-percent and because of that, I don't want anyone discrediting you.