In this blog post, we’ll examine Ridley Scott’s film ‘American Gangster’ to explore how movies reflect society and how they incorporate genre conventions and social messages.

How does society become a movie, and how does a movie shed light on society?

If you search for “American Gangster,” it is generally classified as a crime, drama, and thriller. Of course, the film fully embodies the characteristics of a gangster movie, but I focused more on its thriller elements.
Right from the start, the film informs the audience that it is based on a true story. With this knowledge in mind, viewers watch the film, and I was curious about the effect this device creates. There are many films based on true stories. While some deal with touching real-life stories, there are also quite a few films based on actual criminal cases.
‘American Gangster’ centers on the story of a criminal who amassed a vast fortune through drug dealing and the detective tracking him down. However, the film does not merely stop at recreating the criminal case or conveying facts. Since it was produced based on the testimonies and records of real individuals, it convincingly portrays the lives and inner worlds of the characters while also conveying a social message. As a result, the film leaves a lasting impression that is neither overly heavy nor too light.
In this blog post, rather than conducting an in-depth academic analysis of the film, I’d like to focus on how society becomes cinema, and in turn, how cinema influences society. I’d also like to examine how the genre characteristics of ‘American Gangster’ affect the audience.

How does the opening sequence reveal the film’s genre and era?

Opening Sequence

A dark alley. A man lies tied to a chair, having been severely beaten. Someone pours gasoline over his head. Two men watch the scene. One man, wearing a fedora and a scarf, chews gum with his hands in his pockets as he stares down at the man with a blank expression. The other, relatively young man lights a thick cigar, takes a deep drag, and then tosses the still-lit Zippo lighter at the bound man. Engulfed in flames, the man screams and thrashes about; as he collapses, the young man calmly pulls out a gun and pulls the trigger. He shows no hesitation whatsoever, as if this were a routine occurrence.
It’s a concise yet powerful opening. This scene, which plays out just before the film’s title, “American Gangster,” appears on screen, instantly reveals the film’s genre and atmosphere.
In particular, the classic conventions of the thriller and gangster genres are clearly evident. Night, an alleyway, the city, a gun, smoke, and murder. Elements symbolic of the genre are naturally arranged, while simultaneously conveying the characters’ relationships and personalities within a short span of time. It is an impressive opening sequence that effectively establishes the film’s character.

1970s America, Harlem, and Drugs

The film is set in Harlem, New York, in the 1970s.
The 1970s in the United States was a period of immense social upheaval. The Vietnam War dragged on, social conflicts persisted, and the impact of the civil rights movement continued to resonate throughout American society. The Black community still faced poverty and discrimination, and Harlem was a place where these social realities were concentrated.
During this period, drug trafficking spread rapidly, and in some areas, organized crime had a significant impact on society as a whole.

Furthermore, public trust in law enforcement was severely shaken as some corrupt police officers and public officials colluded with criminal organizations. The film realistically reflects this historical context and naturally highlights the structural problems plaguing American society at the time.
Television news and radio broadcasts appear repeatedly throughout the film. These elements serve to continuously convey the social atmosphere and spirit of the era to the audience, making the narrative flow feel even more realistic.
While watching the film, one can sense how director Ridley Scott seamlessly weaves the historical context and social realities into the narrative. Rather than treating crime as mere entertainment, the film sheds light on the social structure and the diverse array of people of that era, thereby adding a deeper layer of meaning to the work.

How do the characters convey the film’s themes?

At the center of the film are two characters: Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe). Frank has long served as a driver and right-hand man to Bumpy Johnson, the de facto ruler of Harlem. Richie Roberts, on the other hand, is an upright police officer whose marriage has fallen apart due to his frequent extramarital affairs. The film unfolds by interweaving the lives of these two men, centered around the common thread of drugs.
Frank exploits the Vietnam War to personally import large quantities of heroin from Southeast Asia and distribute it across the United States. He respects his mentor, Bumpy Johnson, and strives to follow his way of life. However, he himself does not use drugs and maintains a disciplined lifestyle. On Thanksgiving, he distributes food to the needy in Harlem, and he attends church every week with his mother and wife. Although he has amassed a vast fortune through drugs, he is wary of drawing attention to himself and strives to live a dignified life. Except for the fact that he deals in drugs, he appears to lead a sincere and disciplined life.
In contrast, Rich Roberts works as a detective in the violent crimes unit while studying law with the dream of becoming an attorney. He is so incorruptible that he refuses bribes and favors that other officers take for granted, and he submits every penny of the large sums of cash seized during investigations as evidence without taking a single penny for himself. However, his personal life is far from exemplary. He has been served with divorce papers by his wife and is even involved in a custody battle for his son; his life is unstable due to repeated infidelities.
These two characters seem polar opposites, yet they are strangely similar. Throughout the film, it is difficult for the audience to easily decide whose side to take. From a conventional perspective, Roberts, the police officer, should be the good guy, and Frank, the major drug dealer, the bad guy. But the film does not allow for such a simple dichotomy.
Frank commits murder but does not resort to unnecessary violence, and he values his family above all else. While his actions can never be justified, the film does not portray him as a mere villain. The same is true for Richie. Although he faces many personal problems, his professional ethics are unwavering. He rushes into dangerous situations to save his colleagues and is even preparing to become a lawyer to help build a better society.
The film maintains a balanced narrative, ensuring the focus does not lean too heavily toward either character. It portrays them as mirror images of one another—two men walking different paths but ultimately living in the same era.
Eventually, Frank is arrested by Richie and sent to prison. Later, he cooperates with the investigation into corrupt police officers and other drug cartels, earning a reduced sentence. As time passes, Richie, now a lawyer, takes on Frank’s defense, and the two meet again in a relationship different from their past. It was also Richie who visited Frank after he was released from prison following a sentence of about 15 years.
Through these two characters, the film does not simply stop at distinguishing between good and evil. Rather, it poses a question to the audience: what values should we uphold while living in a chaotic society?
Furthermore, it does not glorify the distorted “American Dream” of accumulating wealth through drugs; instead, it sheds light on the social structures, corrupt military organizations, and corrupt police departments that made such a reality possible. Ultimately, the film persuasively conveys the importance of social justice through the contrast between these two characters.

What genre conventions are present in ‘American Gangster’?

This film naturally incorporates various genre conventions commonly found in gangster films and thrillers. The images discussed earlier—the night in the opening scene, dark alleys, cigars, guns, smoke, and murder—recur throughout the film. These elements serve to constantly remind the audience that this is not a romance or a comedy, but a gangster film and a crime thriller.
As the film’s title suggests, the process by which a “family” is organized around Frank Lucas is also one of the typical characteristics of the gangster genre. Frank initially smuggles drugs into the United States on his own, but later brings his relatives to New York and gradually expands his organization. On the surface, he disguises his operations as car washes, auto repair shops, and laundromats, but in reality, he uses these as bases for transporting and distributing drugs. He entrusts the management of these businesses to his cousins and family members; this method of organizing the group around blood ties clearly illustrates a genre convention that recurs in many gangster films.
The conflicts in the film also revolve largely around money. The desire to amass greater wealth leads to bribery and corruption among corrupt police officers, and to betrayal and violence among rival criminal organizations. The greed to get their hands on even a little more money ultimately leads to the downfall and death of the characters, and through this, the film illustrates the tragedy wrought by greed.
The characters’ costumes and props also reinforce the genre’s characteristics. Frank and his gang members appear in high-end suits and travel in luxury black sedans. Their restrained speech, cool demeanor, and attire and cars that project authority are iconic symbols frequently used in gangster films.
Ultimately, ‘American Gangster’ faithfully utilizes these genre conventions without merely replicating the formula. Building on the genre’s familiar elements, it conveys the true story more persuasively and naturally weaves in the realities of American society at the time along with a social message, thereby creating its own unique identity.

How does the thriller genre serve as a mirror reflecting society?

First, I would like to clarify that this blog post does not strictly distinguish between the crime genre and the thriller genre. This is because, although the two genres have different characteristics, they are often closely intertwined in actual films.
‘The Chaser’, ‘Memories of Murder’, ‘Zodiac’, ‘Children…’, ‘Man on Fire’, and ‘The Crucible’ are all films based on actual events or inspired by true stories. Why do films use real-life events as their subject matter? Most of these events are by no means pleasant stories. For crime victims and their bereaved families in particular, they may be memories they’d rather not relive. Moreover, when adapted into popular culture content—such as films—that reaches a wide audience, there is a risk of inflicting further emotional pain on those involved.
Despite this, why are such films consistently produced? I believe it is because movies have a tremendous influence on society. Movies are among the most widely consumed forms of cultural content, and works based on true stories prompt society to reflect on its past by shedding new light on these events. The thriller genre, in particular, draws audiences into the story through suspense and immersion, allowing it to convey its intended message even more effectively.
In this sense, my statement that “society becomes a movie, and a movie becomes society” means that movies reflect reality while simultaneously influencing it. This may sound like a somewhat exaggerated claim, but there are actual cases where movies have driven social change. A prime example is ‘The Crucible’; following its release, the real-life incident regained public attention and sparked vigorous discussions about related systems and laws. While movies do not possess the direct power to change reality, it is clear that they can play a crucial role in raising social awareness and fostering public discourse.
Therefore, the thriller genre can function not merely as a genre that provides suspense and entertainment to audiences, but also as one that exposes social issues, poses questions to viewers, and prompts them to reflect on how to build a better society.

In Conclusion

I remember ‘Man on Fire’ as one of the films that left a deep impression on me. This film, too, was inspired by a real-life incident, and its story unfolds around a kidnapping case. After watching it, I found myself thinking, “I want to make a movie like this, too.”
Of course, a movie doesn’t necessarily have to convey a moral lesson. I, too, enjoy fantasy films that depict worlds impossible in reality, and I also enjoy watching animation, romance, and comedy genres. However, one of the biggest reasons I love and study film is because of the influence it can have on society.
I believe that conveying emotion through film, delivering a message to correct a flawed reality, or presenting people with a new perspective is a very meaningful endeavor. My goal is to one day make a film that leaves even a small impact on the world.
While wrapping up this post, I gained a deeper understanding of the thriller genre than I had before, and it gave me a chance to reflect once again on the kind of films I want to make in the future. Even if it’s just a small step, this experience was a valuable time that made the direction I need to take moving forward even clearer.