Factual error: If you pay attention to the backgrounds of the scene where Frank is in the airport and when Frank is being arrested as he walks from the church, you can see two cars pass by which weren't produced until at least 2000.
American Gangster (2007)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr., Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Armand Assante
Det. Richie Roberts (Crowe) and his men use one of Frank Lucas' (Washington) men to locate and track a load of drugs. They are lead to Newark's projects where Frank's brother Huey (Ejiofor) is supervising the cutting of the drugs. After using swift tactics to break into the apartment, a large shootout occurs and Roberts ends up chasing Huey. Frank being at church the entire time, walks out to find Roberts standing in front of the church and roadblocks on either side of the street, ready to bust him. While in custody, Frank attempts to smart-talk his way out of a large sentence, but Roberts assures him of all the charges he has against Lucas and all the witnesses willing to testify, claiming that the list stretches around the block. Left with no choice, Lucas cooperates with Roberts, giving up 75% of New York's Drug Enforcement Agency, who are claimed to be corrupt detectives. Detective Trupo (Brolin) is among the list and to avoid arrest, he shoots himself. Richie Roberts resigns from the prosecutor's office to become a defense attorney. Frank receives 70 years for conspiracy to distribute narcotics, and all his assets are seized. But his sentence is reduced to a light 15 years for his cooperation. The final shot shows Frank's release in 1991, looking older and out of place.
Jezzy T
More mistakes in American Gangster
Richie Roberts: This man murdered thousands, and he did it from a penthouse and driving a Lincoln.
More trivia for American Gangster
Question: What was the whole thing of not wanting to turn in the $987,000 they found in the car because it would make them appear untrustworthy? Why would all cops distrust them for handing it in? I get that dirty cops would be annoyed but when they were counting it in the precinct, every cop was drawing them daggers.
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Answer: The idea is if cops wouldn't take a million dollars for themselves, free and clear without risk, they are impeccably honest. Therefore, they wouldn't accept bribes and probably not hold still for shakedowns or payoffs. They wouldn't cover up drug or weapon planting and would testify against crooked cops.