Josh Brolinhas come a long way since his early breakout inThe Goonies. His portrayal of Thanos inThe Avengersfilms and his upcoming role as a father seeking his missing child inZack Cregger’sWeaponshave positioned the actor as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors. Yet, it took manyyears to shake hisGooniesimage beforeAmerican Gangsterforever shed his teen idol image.
2007 was the year Brolin truly arrived as a fully seasoned A-list actor, stepping out of the shadow of his famous father,James Brolin. After several years bouncing between supporting roles on ABC’sThe Young Ridersand several independent films,Gangster, as well as his role as a war veteran on the run from a hitman inNo Country for Old Men, elevated his status in major studio projects. While the latter movie went on to win the Oscar for “Best Picture,” theRidley Scottcrime drama was a big moment in Brolin’s career because he had to hold his own as a corrupt NYPD detective in the ‘70s opposite two cinematic titans:Denzel WashingtonandRussell Crowe.The end result of Brolin’s work on screen would be equally intense when the cameras were not rolling.
What Is ‘American Gangster’ About?
Set primarily in early 1970s Harlem,Gangsterdepictsthe bizarre yet true life story of Frank Lucas(Washington), the former lieutenant to notorious mob bossBumpy Johnson(Clarence Williams III). Lucas was the mastermind of a grand drug operation importing heroin from Thailand and shipping it to America through Vietnam War soldiers returning stateside. Selling the dope in small bags with the name “Blue Magic,”Lucas rises to the top of Harlem’s criminal underworld, removes his competition in blood,and manages to have a low profile in the process.
Lucas’s operation faces several threats, however.The prime threat is New Jersey Detective Richie Roberts(Crowe), an honest cop with an imperfect lifestyle who investigates Lucas after spotting him at theAli vs. Fraziermatch wearing a fancy coat. The other threat is Detective Trupo (Brolin), a deeply dirty cop who heads a small unit attempting to bribe Lucas for his earnings. As Lucas’s operation gets jeopardized by the cease-fire of the war in Vietnam,he resorts to a desperate tactic just as the police close in on him and his associates.
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While the crime drama has two Oscar heavyweights in Washington and Crowe with above-the-title billing,Brolin makes an impressive mark by his ruthless portrayal that lacks the humility that his co-stars have. Brolin provides a much-needed balance for a narrative depicting drug lord Lucas providing a better life for his family, especially his mother (Ruby Dee), at the expense ofpoisoning his community by flooding dope on the streets. Though Crowe’s Roberts is played as incorruptible, as proven by his retrieval of drug money without taking any for himself,Brolin’s Trupo is his doppelgänger because he has no moral center. He’s all in on using the badge for personal gain, like expensive polyester outfits and a high-end house.
Josh Brolin and Denzel Washington Nearly Traded Blows for Real
Brolin’s previous bad guy roles inThe Mod Squad,Into the Blue, andPlanet Terrorwere often underwritten antagonists who lacked depth and left no lasting impression on the overall story.Gangsterwas the first time Brolin played a terrifying character simply by having Trupo never get loud or overly aggressive. He can be threatening in a very laid-back manner. In one scene where Trupo and his crew catch Roberts trailing them in the street, Brolin sells the above-the-law mobster mentality with a soft-spoken, veiled threat to make the usually gruff Crowe look small in comparison.
When it came to working in scenes opposite Washington, Brolin had to match theTraining Daystar’s powerful intensity, which is no easy feat. Brolin’s confrontation with Washington, in which Trupo pulls Lucas’s car over to seize his dope, was very authentic due tothe near-altercation between the stars during production. In a 2024 interview onIn Depth with Graham Bensinger, Brolin recounted an incident in which he and Washington conflicted over dialogue that was restructured by the Oscar-winning actor without his knowledge. Upon Brolin forgetting a line due to the changes, Washington nearly got physical after Brolin put his hand on his shoulder. Though it never escalated to violence,it only made their few moments on screen that much more real.
American Gangsterwas the defining picture that helped Brolin successfully transition into adult characters. The long years of working alongside legendary directors and actors fully prepared him to elevate his A-game to match wits against Washington and Crowe while finally embodying a role that completely chews up the scenery. To that end,Brolin is as much a powerhouse supporting player as he is a credible leading man.
American Gangster
