IF YOU GO: What: ‘American Gangster’When: Tonight, 6 p.m.Where: Gifford Auditorium, HBCHow Much: Free

The year of the gangster movie continues.

Tonight at 6 p.m., University Union Cinemas and Universal Pictures are offering a free screening of ‘American Gangster,’ starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The film will be shown in Gifford Auditorium in HBC.

‘It’s by a really great director, and it’s a great cast,’ said Julie Katchen, co-director of UU Cinemas. ‘Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe are fantastic.’

Directed by Ridley Scott, ‘Gangster’ follows the story of Frank Lucas (Washington), a drug seller’s chauffeur who creates his own drug empire after his boss suddenly dies. Lucas is suddenly the go-to guy for the best drugs and a superstar in the underground world.

‘Gangster’ comes in the same month of two other positively reviewed mob films (‘Eastern Promises’ and ‘We Own the Night’). Mob flick ‘The Departed’ won the Oscar for best picture in March.

In ‘Gangster,’ Richie Roberts (Crowe) is an outcast police officer who is familiar with the streets. He senses that there is a change in the underground drug Mafia and tries to expose the new ringleader.

Lucas and Roberts are on the opposite side of the law and eventually meet in an epic showdown where only one person can win.

-Tim Goessling contributed reporting to this story.

Published on October 18, 2007 at 12:00 pm