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Make
no mistake. This is about as low budget as a documentary can get. It
essentially plays like a radio show (voiced by B-Team "Mafia actor"
Dennis Farina) played over pretty whatever stock footage of men in
overcoats the producers could find. But you simply can't go past a good
ol' fashioned expose on the Mafia. Why? Because they can pretty get
away with all the things we wish we could get away with.
They
fixed the World Series, they built Las Vegas, they terrorized American
streets with vicious cold-blooded murders. The names live on in infamy
- names like Bugsy Siegal, Al Capone, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd,
and Lucky Luciano. But how did it all come to be?
Detailing the true story behind their ruthless rise to wealth and power, The American Gangster uses
the aforementioned vintage film and photographs to explore the
intricate world & birth of prohibition, prostitution, gangland
massacres and gambling empires.
Works best if you've just finished a three-day-long DVD marathon of The Sopranos, Underbelly and The Godfather otherwise it can get a little repetitive and tiresome if you're hearts not really in it.
Having
said that, it certainly is a facinating story - and one which helps
explain why the world continues to be so in awe of the mythical figures
that is The American Gangster.
EXTRAS
Considering
this has been transfered over from an early 90s VHS, it's not
surprising to realise there isn't anything in the way of extras.
If anything, you get the feeling that The American Gangster would have made a superb DVD extra on another DVD release (perhaps a Sopranos or Godfather re-release). But as it stands, it's kind of lacklustre if you're planning on watching more than 15 minutes of it. Conclusion:
Movie 50% Extras: N/A
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