Directed by Ridley Scott in 2007, the film American Gangster stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and is a well-crafted crime drama based on the true story of Frank Lucas, one of the most notorious figures in American crime history during the 1970s.

Lucas, a young black man from North Carolina, established an unprecedented drug trafficking network based in Harlem, New York.

The film highlights the dark side of the major cities of New York and New Jersey while thrillingly tracking the meticulous and brutal distribution routes that brought high-purity drugs directly from Southeast Asia to the U.S. mainland, taking advantage of the chaos of the Vietnam War.

One of the film's greatest virtues is its thorough local location shooting, which perfectly recreates the atmosphere of the era.

A significant portion of the film was shot in the New York and New Jersey area.

Russell Crowe plays the principled federal investigator Richie Roberts, who is based in Newark and closely pursues Lucas's intricate web of crime.

The harsh streets of Newark, the solemn courthouse buildings, and ordinary neighborhoods vividly capture the landscape of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area in the 1970s, enhancing the film's immersion. Newark, located just 30-40 minutes by car from Palisades Park, where many Koreans reside today, was the central stage for this intense chase.

Beyond being a simple crime entertainment film, this work sharply delves into the issues of racial discrimination, class conflict, and corruption in law enforcement that American society faced at the time.

Denzel Washington perfectly embodies the cold yet composed boss, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, while the strong performances of the supporting cast, including Ruby Dee, led to Academy Award nominations.

Critics praised the film for realistically exposing the poverty and distorted ambitions of the black community, as well as the widespread corruption of police who turned a blind eye to drug trafficking for personal gain. It received a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 81%, garnering support from both audiences and critics.

The commercial success was also remarkable.

This major production, with a budget of $100 million, earned $46.3 million in its opening weekend alone, breaking the record for the highest opening weekend for an R-rated crime drama at the time.

Ultimately, it grossed over $267 million worldwide, and later generated more than $75 million in sales in the secondary market, including DVD and Blu-ray, solidifying its status as a blockbuster.

For residents of northeastern New Jersey, including Palisades Park, American Gangster serves as a special text that prompts reflection on the dark past of the everyday spaces they pass by.

While New Jersey is depicted in the film as a place stained by drugs, poverty, and corruption, over 50 years later, the area has completely transformed into a safe and vibrant community.

In particular, I feel proud that the Korean community in Palisades Park has brought new cultural diversity and economic energy to the area, leading to positive changes.

The masterpiece American Gangster, which juxtaposes the brutal tragedies of the past with modern prosperity, is currently available on various streaming platforms, including Netflix.