This month’s theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS has us analyzing two, distinct, black leading men but the majority of the month is dedicated to Denzel Washington. This week we watch some portrayals of powerful men and this one is based on a true story though many of the real life players involved might dismiss much of it but it makes Frank Lucas look swag so he’s the least of the refuters. Yes, Denzel portrays real life gangster Frank Lucas. The Godfather of Harlem ran a heroin empire where he smuggled the good shit directly from a Vietnamese supplier through transport coffins with the help of the U.S. Military. Uh, allegedly. Denzel’s Frank Lucas is fairly wise and quite smooth but the screen is shared with Frank Lucas’s prosecutor AND LATER defense attorney, Richie Roberts, as portrayed by Russell Crowe. Also co-starring Josh Brolin as an obscenely corrupt NYPD with a broad cast of many rappers and well regarded actors. We haven’t even named the movie so I guess I can say that we’re discussing the 2007 gangster/crime film “AMERICAN GANGSTER” directed by the prolific Ridley Scott. We got to a Ridley Scott Denzel picture before we got to a Tony Scott Denzel picture. Tony Scott is next week. In the meantime, keep with the hustle. That’s honestly not a motto of mine. I’ve never said that or typed it out before in my life.