eShop USA > DVD > American Gangster - The Complete First Season
American Gangster - The Complete First Season
List Price: $26.99Our Price: $19.99 You Save: $7.00 (26%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0097368525641
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Paramount
Languages: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Manufacturer: Paramount
MPN: D852564D
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Running Time: 246 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Related Items: Featured Listmania!
Editorial Review:
A fascinating, hypnotic documentary series, American Gangster investigates the lives of African-American druglords, thieves, and gang leaders. The most compelling story is probably that of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, who co-founded the Crips, counseled at-risk youth, appeared on The Gong Show as a bodybuilder, had a mental breakdown from drug use, had a social awakening in prison, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end gang warfare, before finally being executed for multiple murders. But American Gangster also uses his story to delve into how the cultural vacuum created by the collapse of the civil rights movement led to the rise of gangs--just as its episodes on drug lords like the Chamber Brothers and Leroy "Nicky" Barnes (who appeared on the cover of a Sunday New York Times Magazine next to the headline "Mr. Untouchable") explore the history of heroin and cocaine trafficking. Narrated by the authoritative voice of Ving Rhames (Rosewood, Dawn of the Dead), the show balances salacious details (the women who sorted "Freeway" Ricky Ross's cocaine did so topless, so that they couldn't steal any) and sharp sociological observations. The life of Ross, whose blocked aspirations as a tennis player led to a wildly successful drug empire, intersects with the Iran-Contra scandals of the Reagan Administration. The episode about jewel thieves Dino and Troy Smith, who went in for one last score after going straight for a while, plays out like a topnotch thriller, while the life of Lorenzo "Fat Cat" Nichols seems even more of a sad waste than these other ambitious, intelligent, and ruthless men whose talents found no place in the American mainstream. American Gangster doesn't forgive anyone's crimes, but its breadth of vision demonstrates the social forces that make crime seem inevitable. The result is compulsive and enlightening viewing. --Bret Fetzer
AMERICAN GANGSTER is BET's critically acclaimed, highly rated crime docu-series that explores the historical, socio-economic and political context surrounding the rise and fall of 9 notorious African-American criminal minds. These are not just your two-bit hustlers…One modeled his organization after the management structure of General Motors. Another studied gemology to be well versed and blend in among an elite audience of jewelers and high end collectors. Another was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature for children's books before he was eventually executed. What was the catalyst for their life of crime? How does their story begin and end? This groundbreaking series digs deeper to answer these and other poignant questions.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - American Gangster - The Complete First Season
Great educational peace of work, I find this to be interesting as well as entertaining
Rating: - What an Eye Opener!
Not only do you get a real look into the lives of mostly high profile drug dealers and those people and large communities (often metropolitan cities) affected by the drug dealers' actions, you also get an look at the corruption within the United States government, FBI, CIA, and other government divisions which is far too often kept under the radar by the mainstream media. It is very sad to know how corrupt the government is, how free speech within the United States media is just an illusion (you'll ... Read More
Rating:  - Disappointing and Depressing.
I heard a lot of buzz about this series so I gave these episodes a gander after they came out on DVD. I was not previously familiar with BET or its slant on the issues of the day. What I saw in the depictions of these men was extremely unsettling. All of them, in some way, were presented as being victims of The Man or The System. This is preposterous in my view. Being born poor or of low socioeconomic status is never an excuse to commit to a life of crime. Do I begrudge the person who must steal a loaf ... Read More
Rating: - Awesome Series
I purchased this set for my partner for Christmas because we has watched it on BET and it was EXCELLENT!!!!!!! It was well worth the price and I even received it before christmas...
Rating: - American Gangster is GANGSTA!
I can't wait for the next season to be available. This series features interesting and poignant, yet tragic stories of the great rise and fall of African American gangsters. These cautionary tales are entertaining, educational, funny, shocking, and sad all at the same time. American Gangster is a great new perspective on the bastardized American Dream that so many African American males fall prey to. Check it out, you won't be disappointed...and as Fat Albert used to say, you might learn something along ... Read More
Related Categories:
| |
 |
