American Hustle Movie Review

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards
Best Picture
Best Director (David O'Russell)
Best Actor (Christian Bale0
Best Actress (Amy Adams)
Best Supporting Actor (Bradley Cooper)
Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence)
Best Original Screenplay (David O' Russell and Eric Warren Singer)
Best Editing
Best Production Design
Best Costume Design

If there's one word I can use to describe David 'O Russell's new film, the 70s period piece American Hustle, it would be style. This movie, from start to finish, has so. much. freakin. style. From the direction, to the acting, to the script, to the soundtrack, to the cinematography, every frame of this film is oozing with unparalleled style and swagger, that it's almost too much. In fact the film walks a very fine line between stylish and campy, but thankfully doesn't contain an ounce of the latter. This is a hell of a film, one of originality, energy, and pure brilliance, 'O Russell directed by favorite film of 2012, Silver Linings Playbook, and while this doesn't quite reach the heights of that extraordinary film, this is an entirely different animal, showing his great versatility as his director. While it is loosely based on the infamous ABSCAM scandal, that's just the backdrop to what is a highly interesting character study about hustling to survive, conning, and reinvention.

The film centers around a con duo, Irving Rosenfled (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who are madly in love and are geniuses at the art of conning. They are soon recruited by FBI Agent Richie Di Masso (Bradley Cooper) to go after a string of corrupt politicians in the New Jersey area, including good hearted mayor, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Di Masso soon realizes that he had no idea what he was getting into, and what follows is one of the very best films of 2013.

I really loved American Hustle. It has all the qualities that a truly good movie should have. First off, David 'O Russell proves, once again, that he is a master behind the camera, and one of the very best directors working today. He has a way with the camera that indicates instantly that your watching a David 'O Russell film. But more than ever he lets you know, throughout, that HE directed this film, and while it may come off as a bit over indulgent or arrogant to some people, I couldn't get enough of his various slo-mo sequences and zoom-in pans. The film wouldn't have been the same without his assured hand guiding the film.

He also writes one hell of a script. The characters in American Hustle are some of the most interesting cinematic creations in recent memory, and Russell defines EVERY SINGLE ONE (really, even the very small characters) perfectly, and they're all memorable, complex, and interesting in there own different ways. The dialogue here is sharp and crackling, the kind of script where you can't wait to hear what the characters are about to say next. The scenes involving Bale, Adams, and Cooper planning the operation truly showcase 'O Russell's ability to right insanely clever, entertaining dialogue, as the actors deliver the wonderful lines in exhilarating ways. But Russell is even stronger in the film's more emotional and vital moments, perfectly capturing the desperation and craziness of some of the film's main characters.

An aspect of this film that can't be ignored is the incredible soundtrack, which features incredible song such as "Dirty Work", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Live and Let Die", "Jeep's Blues", "Long Black Road", and a slew of other classics. Not only is it fantastic to just be able to listen to a bunch of really great songs during a movie, but the music complements the film's setting, tone, and characters brilliantly, and it's a wonderful artistic touch on 'O Russell's part. Also the costume design, explosive hair, and impeccable production design brilliantly reinforce and consistently remind us that THIS TAKES PLACE IN THE 70'S. And again, while that would usually drive me insane, its executed so brilliantly that I fell in love with the over the top nature of the film.

But perhaps the biggest strength of the film is the impeccable, fearless performances from its central five actors. Christain Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jeremy Renner. The fact that those actors are all together in one movie is already cause for celebration, but thankfully they are all at the top of their game, giving some of the best performances of their respective careers. Christian Bale is one of the few actors working today who one could describe as "infallible" since he seems to give great performance after great performance...and his sterling reputation only continues to grow as he is irresistibly charismatic as (arguably) the central character Irving Rosenfeld. Bale annihilates a flawless new york accent, and he presents us with a deeply broken man who, despite his profession, really just wants to do the right thing, even if it is in his own, twisted way. Amy Adams gives the most energetic and intense performance of her career as Sydney Prosser, a character who is so unsure about her own identity and is unable to convince herself who she really is. Adams is easily one of the best actresses working today, and she has yet to give a single sub par performance yet. Jeremy Renner is equally terrific as mayor Carmine Polito, showing a lighter, more vulnerable side as an actor. Renner has been greatly ignored by critic circles and awards shows, which is a real shame, because he's fantastic here.  And it seems like Jennifer Lawrence can do NO WRONG, as she knocks it out of the park once again as Bale's hilariously idiotic wife, Rosalyn. As good as Lawrence is, she isn't quite as strong as some of her acting counterparts, and there are numerous times where it seemed like she was trying a bit too hard. However, she has more talent than actresses twice, even three times her age, but you guys know that I mean, come on, who doesn't love Jennifer Lawrence? But the showstopper here, the absolute best performance, believe it or not, is Bradley Cooper as the fascinating FBI agent Richie Di Masso. A few years ago Bradley Cooper was a throwaway Hollywood actor, known primarily for The Hangover movies and showing up periodically as a supporting player in a slew of romantic comedies. Now, he's a two time Oscar nominee, and a highly respected actor. A few years ago, if I had told you that Bradley Cooper was even STARRING alongside Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner, you would've laughed in my face. But not only does he star with them, he overshadows them as he gives a performance full of ferocity, hilarity, vulnerability, and uncontrollable insanity. This is also in great part to David 'O Russell, who makes Di Masso one of the most interesting characters in recent years, but Cooper elevates the material and makes the role his own.

The film has a few, very small issues. For one, the film has a few slow moments here and there, but all flaws are forgiven because the last 45 minutes of this film is the most entertaining and investing  experience I had at the theater all year. Brilliant, exhilarating film making. Also, it runs a bit long, and maybe a couple of the scenes in the 1st half could have been trimmed down a bit. But these are minor gripes to give to a stellar film.

The best thing about American Hustle are its wonderfully complex themes. It seems, throughout, all the characters are conning each other, one way or the other, trying to reinvent themselves, and are doing whatever they can to survive. 'O Russell explores these themes with vividness and care creates one crazy world with a group of crazy characters to inhabit it. American Hustle is the kind of film that gives you a cinematic high, and when it ends you'll immediately want to sit down and watch it all over again. David 'O Russell, you're a bad ass.