MEST 4 Xmas Task 6

An investigation into how criminal lifestyles are glamorised in gangster films.

The ‘reincarnation of the gangster film, replete with glamour, extreme brutality and an uncanny eye for the humanness and rivals of their ink would later breath life into the T.V. creation, glorious bloody The Sopranos’[1].

Similarly the representations are also reflected in a diversity of contemporary gangster films, such as ‘American Gangster’[2]. The protagonist in the film plays a lead role of a gangster. Which in this case Frank Lucas (Danzel Washington) in several scenes enables the audience to associate his personality in relation to being a gangster due to the brutal stereotypical conventions that Frank fulfils.
In particular, during a specific scene[3] during the film, Frank exits a café after gazing out the café’s window and discovers his enemy walking along the same street of the café. Once catching up to him, Frank confronts him about debts that he owes Frank, which his enemy demands more time. As Frank Lucas does not approve of his command at that moment, Frank then fires his hand held pistol and unmistakably kills his enemy in public.
[1] Sanders, Jon, (2009). The Film Genre Book, pg. 124
[2] American Gangster, 2007, Ridley Scott, U.S.A.
[3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI8PFLRSjVQ