If you’ve ever wanted to see Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe work together (and are wise enough to just forget the 1995 film “Virtuosity” ever happened), then “American Gangster” is the movie for you.

Here’s a highly entertaining crime epic that may feel a little familiar, but succeeds thanks to the star power of its two leads. Washington and Crowe both tackle their respective roles with gusto and deliver two very entertaining performances.

Based on a true story, “American Gangster” is actually two tales in one – one concerning the rise and fall of a drug dealer and the other the fall and eventual rise of an honest-to-a-fault cop.

Washington plays Lucas, a loyal driver for a Harlem gangster who takes over the business after his boss dies. Lucas decides to aim higher than his predecessor and succeeds, building a heroin empire that makes him even more powerful than the mob.

Lucas begins to get noticed, not just by his competition, but by Richie Roberts (Crowe), a squeaky clean cop hired to run a drug task force. While Roberts may be the perfect cop, the rest of his life is far from it – the detective is in the midst of a messy divorce and barely has time for his son.

Steven Zaillian’s script does an excellent job of fleshing out both characters’ stories, while director Ridley Scott does an effective job of balancing both stories.

There is some solid supporting work as well, especially from Josh Brolin as a corrupt cop.

“Gangster” can be criticized for its glamorization of Lucas (as one friend I saw the film with put it, “I wanted him to get away”), but that flaw can be overlooked easily because of the strengths of the film’s two leads.

I wouldn’t say this is an Oscar contender, but “American Gangster” is definitely an entertaining way to kick off the holiday movie season.