American Gangster Blu-ray

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe bring their spectacular acting chops to American Gangster, but the film’s muted, grainy cinematography limits its Blu-ray bite. Director Ridley Scott wisely matches the film’s somber design to the story line’s setting, the heroin epidemic in ’70s New York, but that doesn’t yield many bright high-def visuals. Still, when Washington knocks off his enemies as drug lord Frank Lucas, the blood seems more sinister in Blu-ray. American Gangster Blu-ray interactivity, such as picture-in-picture commentary, is carried over from its past HD DVD release.

Shelf Talk: American Gangster should be a simple sell for Blu-ray owners, who are undoubtedly familiar with Scott’s impressive high-def catalog (Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Blade Runner).