Excuse me Academy...I think you missed something.

I finally got around to seeing American Gangster last night and damn, that was a fine flick. Ridley Scott is responsible for one of my all-time favorite movies (Thelma and Louise) so I was psyched to see it, but unfortunatley had missed it in the theaters.

Considering this director and the cast he acquired, you can assume it is filled with fine acting (especially Ruby Dee) and composition. But, it is also a great story that once again highlights that sometimes real life is better than fiction. It really gets under your skin and makes you consider who the "bad guys" really are and why they might be that way. No one is entirely a hero or a villian, just as it should be.

After viewing it though, I was really dumbfounded as to why the Academy Awards overlooked this film. I know they aren't really the ultimate judge of good film, but it was also a big Hollywood money-maker, which usually is a plus for a film when it comes to Oscar nods. I haven't actualy seen most of the films that are nominated. I might go see them this Saturday at a nearby theater that is showing them all back-to-back for $30 (with free popcorn!). So, maybe I'll change my tune after seeing the lot of them, but as it stands now, this films appears to be sadly overlooked.