Directed by Ridley Scott, American Gangster stars Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, who builds a powerful heroin operation in 1970s Harlem, while Russell Crowe plays detective Richie Roberts, the investigator determined to dismantle his criminal empire. As Lucas develops his own supply network and challenges New York’s established underworld, Roberts confronts corruption within the police force and assembles a narcotics task force. Based on real people and events, the crime drama also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin and Ruby Dee, who received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting performance

Från IMDB:
An outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.