American Gangsters, the movie. I thought the movie was reasonable. I felt something was missing, some sort of "heart". It was well shot and the characters had reasonable depth. It was interesting the parallel and contrast between Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Denzel Washington went into so much effort to be aristocratic and "white". It must reflect a kind of inferiority complex. May be it is similar to the "immigrant mentality"concept. It is that ambition and anger which helped him to risk his life to "show 'em". In many ways, it is a useful mechanism to drive one to excel and fulfil one's own potential. Yet, it is so hard to strike a balance, between drive and acceptance - accepting circumstances as they are. He could well have quit the business while he was ahead. He could have avoided going to jail, losing his wife and his wealth. Thinking about it though, may be, it's something he had to go through. I don't know where he is or whether he returned to a life or crime. But that experience, the rapid rise to power then free fall into the absyss of jail, I wonder how it affected him. If he didn't go to jail, would he be the same person? Would it have made him a better person? THe deprivation in his upbringing may have influenced him and gave him the impetus to fight to the top. I would like to think that he would rise above this crisis in adulthood with the same force? It is interesting how power and paranoia goes hand in hand. Personally I have never experienced the joy of power. I seem to only see the associated responsibility. Nonetheless, the need to control underlying, at least part of the human craving for power, may be still another means to disguise one's fear. Fear of what? I suppose fear of adversity of any sort, a survival instinct. Power seem to imply that the person believe in an internal locus of control. Power minimises the need for external validation - because everyone is coerced into agreeing with you. I suppose that is why power is such an attractive thing. Therefore I suppose the search for knowledge is another means to deal with fear of the unknown. Obviously, the more knowledge you have, there is less that is unpredictable. One feels more confident to talk about something if one feels he knows the topic well. This then projects confidence. Why are people so afraid? What are we afraid of? Fear of exclusion. Fear of death. Would we be so concerned about global warming if we are not afraid of our own extinction? Would there still be acts of kindness if we do not fear that we would not be treated with kindness, in our own time of need? Would people believe in God if there is no fear of God? I suppose I've assumed that fear is ultimately a bad emotion. In reality, fear is necessary because it is a survival instinct. It is a balance to be struck. Completely tangential comment, OH MY GOODNESS TV ONE IS SHOWING BOWLS ALL DAY! they surely have no fear about losing ratings!