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| American Gangster - The Complete First Season | 
 enlarge | Actor: Ving Rhames
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.99
Buy New: $11.49
You Save: $15.50 (57%)
New (40) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $11.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 7768
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 246
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.6 x 0.7
MPN: D852564D
UPC: 097368525641
EAN: 0097368525641
ASIN: B000TGJ8EY
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New Factory Sealed- We ship to APO/FPO's.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
A fascinating, hypnotic documentary series, American Gangster investigates the lives of African-American druglords, thieves, and gang leaders. The most compelling story is probably that of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, who co-founded the Crips, counseled at-risk youth, appeared on The Gong Show as a bodybuilder, had a mental breakdown from drug use, had a social awakening in prison, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end gang warfare, before finally being executed for multiple murders. But American Gangster also uses his story to delve into how the cultural vacuum created by the collapse of the civil rights movement led to the rise of gangs--just as its episodes on drug lords like the Chamber Brothers and Leroy "Nicky" Barnes (who appeared on the cover of a Sunday New York Times Magazine next to the headline "Mr. Untouchable") explore the history of heroin and cocaine trafficking. Narrated by the authoritative voice of Ving Rhames (Rosewood, Dawn of the Dead), the show balances salacious details (the women who sorted "Freeway" Ricky Ross's cocaine did so topless, so that they couldn't steal any) and sharp sociological observations. The life of Ross, whose blocked aspirations as a tennis player led to a wildly successful drug empire, intersects with the Iran-Contra scandals of the Reagan Administration. The episode about jewel thieves Dino and Troy Smith, who went in for one last score after going straight for a while, plays out like a topnotch thriller, while the life of Lorenzo "Fat Cat" Nichols seems even more of a sad waste than these other ambitious, intelligent, and ruthless men whose talents found no place in the American mainstream. American Gangster doesn't forgive anyone's crimes, but its breadth of vision demonstrates the social forces that make crime seem inevitable. The result is compulsive and enlightening viewing. --Bret Fetzer
Description
AMERICAN GANGSTER is BET's critically acclaimed, highly rated crime docu-series that explores the historical, socio-economic and political context surrounding the rise and fall of 9 notorious African-American criminal minds. These are not just your two-bit hustlers…One modeled his organization after the management structure of General Motors. Another studied gemology to be well versed and blend in among an elite audience of jewelers and high end collectors. Another was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature for children's books before he was eventually executed. What was the catalyst for their life of crime? How does their story begin and end? This groundbreaking series digs deeper to answer these and other poignant questions.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 What an Eye Opener! August 31, 2008
Not only do you get a real look into the lives of mostly high profile drug dealers and those people and large communities (often metropolitan cities) affected by the drug dealers' actions, you also get an look at the corruption within the United States government, FBI, CIA, and other government divisions which is far too often kept under the radar by the mainstream media. It is very sad to know how corrupt the government is, how free speech within the United States media is just an illusion (you'll notice a reoccurring true life theme of how those journalists who exposed government corruption were always blackballed in their media careers and harassed by the government), AND have a close up into what some people would do to their own neighborhoods and families for money.
Not only do I highly recommend both the 1st and 2nd season DVDs but I would want every single American to view it. I WOULD REALLY URGE PARENTS TO VIEW THESE DVDs WITH THEIR CHILDREN (probably ages 13-17). These documentaries are that important!
In addition to being an excellent educational tool both DVDs are intense, thrilling, and easily kept the attention of myself and my friends. It is worth every penny of its price!
 Disappointing and Depressing. January 29, 2008
10 out of 19 found this review helpful
I heard a lot of buzz about this series so I gave these episodes a gander after they came out on DVD. I was not previously familiar with BET or its slant on the issues of the day. What I saw in the depictions of these men was extremely unsettling. All of them, in some way, were presented as being victims of The Man or The System. This is preposterous in my view. Being born poor or of low socioeconomic status is never an excuse to commit to a life of crime. Do I begrudge the person who must steal a loaf of bread to survive? No, I do not but I do begrudge the person who steals to get rich or to die trying. There is no explanation or justification possible for this. The inner-city is not a place without hope. There are tens of thousands of black Americans who were born at the same time as Tookie Williams or later Ricky Ross--who came from exactly the same kinds of neighborhood they did--who never broke the law and went on to lead productive lives. In our urban areas today, there are thousands of individuals who come from the community who work in the community as postal workers, teachers, policemen, firemen, small store owners, and entrepreneurs with differing levels of status.
Such a message does not come across in these episodes as the only voice of reason is Bernard Parks, the former Chief of the LA Police. That Tom Hayden, a revolutionary throughout the 1960s, would be described as a community activist is obscene. He believes, and has written, that those in jail are uniformly oppressed, political prisoners. Of course he would think that Tookie Williams was only a victim of circumstance. What else would he say? As for the folks he murdered, they are no longer capable of speaking for themselves.
I also believe that the whole CIA conspiracy angle with crack cocaine is pretty sick and fallacious. Nobody in the CIA was authorized to work in the streets of America or to do anything here. Obviously, I am not naive enough to pretend that there are not rogue agents out there doing what they want until they're caught but that does not equate with a government conspiracy to circulate crack in our urban areas. That Ross worked hand-in-hand with someone who became a government informer is an inevitable byproduct of choosing the business he did. Most of us choose, on a daily basis, not to take the easier route or be corrupted by money should it include the possibility of going to jail. The fellows profiled here made different choices...and they paid the price.
Awesome Series January 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I purchased this set for my partner for Christmas because we has watched it on BET and it was EXCELLENT!!!!!!! It was well worth the price and I even received it before christmas...
American Gangster is GANGSTA! January 12, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can't wait for the next season to be available. This series features interesting and poignant, yet tragic stories of the great rise and fall of African American gangsters. These cautionary tales are entertaining, educational, funny, shocking, and sad all at the same time. American Gangster is a great new perspective on the bastardized American Dream that so many African American males fall prey to. Check it out, you won't be disappointed...and as Fat Albert used to say, you might learn something along the way! 5 stars!
 American Gangster - The Complete First Season December 22, 2007
This documentary series deals with the rise and fall of each of the principal characters as they learn the hard way crime does not pay. The documentary provides an informative look at the inner workings of gang-related violence and crime in the innercity. There are no "Ghetto Neighborhood Robin Hood" heroes in this series. The facts speak for themselves. The fate of each of the principal characters is as predictable as it is inevitable. This is a top-notch quality product that was delivered soon after it had been ordered. I highly recommend it.
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