Denzel Washington’s Frank Lucas protagonist inAmerican Gangsterhas a secret code that completely changes how to watch the classic movie. Directed by Ridley Scott,American Gangsterfollowsreal-life Harlem drug lord Frank Lucasas he establishes himself as the kingpin of heroin distribution during the late 1960s. The film was nominated for 2 Academy Awards and if often consideredone of Washington’s most iconic movie charactersin his illustrious and decade-spanning acting career.
Released back in 2007,American Gangsterremains Washington’s highest-grossing movieof his career. The film also features performances by Russell Crowe as outcast New York City copRichie Roberts, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Ortiz, Cuba Gooding Jr., Carla Gugino, Idris Elba, and Common.American Gangsterwas written by Steven Zallian, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter ofSchindler’s Listand the Emmy-winning director of Netflix’s 2024 limited seriesRipley.
Frank Lucas Pouring Too Much Sugar In American Gangster Is A Signal For His Bodyguards To Closely Watch Him
The small detail has a whole new meaning when rewatching the film
Frank Lucas pours too much sugar into his coffee as a signal to his bodyguards to keep their eyes peeled duringAmerican Gangster.He does this during one of his first encounters with Idris Elba’s character named Tango, pouring way too much sugar into his cup of coffee before going back to a second, deliberate dose of sugar and tapping the top of his coffee mug several times. It happens pretty early on inAmerican Gangsterand it’s something that once you notice it, it’s difficult to miss in rewatches.
American Gangster Leaves Out An Incredible True Story About Richie Roberts & Frank Lucas After His Release
American Gangster tells the story of real-life mobster Frank Lucas, but the film leaves out one of his most interesting Richie Roberts connections.
Lucas does this on more than one occasion inAmerican Gangsterbut it could easily be mistaken for him just preferring his coffee extra sweet.After he puts in the excess sugar, however, he only takes a minor sip as a decoy, since he probably doesn’t like what appears to be 4-5 sugar packets in his coffee, but the people he’s talking to have no idea. The excess sugar also alludes to the notion of junkies and their need for a fix, which is an additional theme of the film. Lucas obviously is not a junkie but controls the distribution and flow of the product.
Is American Gangster’s Sugar Code Based On A Real Frank Lucas Signal?
There’s no evidence that he really did that
While the extra sugar in the coffee code is a great added detail toAmerican Gangster, there’s no evidence to suggest that the real Frank Lucas really did that.It was likely invented by Zallian or Scott for the sake of the filmand as a hidden Easter egg for fans to be able to discover and pick up on. The real Lucas, who died in 2019, was reportedly thrilled with Washington’s portrayal of him because of how intelligent and coy he comes off, attributes that others would not have said of the real person. Washington’s sugar trick adds a layer of authenticity to Frank Lucas inAmerican Gangster.
15 Best Movies Like American Gangster
Denzel Washington’s charm in American Gangster can persuade anyone to delve into the many crime epics of cinema. Here are some films to start with.
American Gangster
Cast
American Gangster is a 2007 crime film directed by Ridley Scott, featuring Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin in Harlem, and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, the detective determined to bring him down. The film explores the rise of Lucas in the drug trade and the eventual intersection of their lives amidst the backdrop of a corrupt and morally complex society.
