American Hustle (B or 3/4 stars)
Filmmaker David O. Russell is on quite the role as of late. It didn't use to be that way. His career started with some offbeat, unseen indies. Then there was I Heart Huckabees, which is well-known for Russell blowing up at Lily Tomlin (and vice-versa) on the set. But it was after that film where Russell found critical & box office traction with The Fighter (which I love), & then last year with Silver Linings Playbook. So now, with his latest movie 'American Hustle', expectations are obviously very high. The film is about cons, crooks, and is loosely based on the big government ABSCAM sting of the time; circa 1978. Christian Bale plays a tough-talking, Bronx-bred con man named Irving Rosenfeld, who makes a living doing small-time jobs. But of course ... he has bigger aspirations.
He meets a stunning woman named Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who, despite Irving's appearance (a fantastic opening sequence shows just how overweight & balding he is), is somehow attracted to him as well as being seduced by his $$-making schemes; as a cover, she pretends to be a British lady; using her feminine wiles & inflecting an accent. But problems arise early. Irving has a young trophy wife named Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) with a child and, well, Rosalyn is a bit of a loose cannon {NEVER tell her a secret}. Things come to a head when FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) busts Irving & Sydney. But Richie has a plan of his own to make $$millions, so he brings them in on his take. Honestly, this ABSCAM 'con' becomes a bit complicated, but it all has something to do with ripping off the mob & busting "corrupt" senators, members of the HoR, as well as beloved NJ mayor, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Much ... well, MUCH ensues.
The look/feel/vibe/plot here reminds me of a lesser Boogie Nights or an old school minor-Scorsese flick (thanks to the mob tie-in). THIS movie does not have the same verve & narrative propulsion (or clarity!) of those movies. Its script rambles way too much; feels unwieldy (particularly at 130 minutes in length). But the film is still fairly entertaining in its own right. That is mostly due to the performances from the ensemble. I mean, I like how the screenplay is riddled with wit & humor throughout, but the plot is not overly engaging, and the film wouldn't be what it is without these actors.
Christian Bale, as usual, loses himself in the character he plays thanks to his method acting. You just have to take one look at his Irving, listen to him, observe him, & know who this guy is. Bale is superb in his sympathetic/pathetic-ness. Amy Adams is sexy, desperate, & conniving. I just wish she was given more to do; more dialogue, more narrative meat to chew on. But what she gives us is stellar. Bradley Cooper's Richie is basically an insecure lunatic with lofty goals, permed hair, & ridiculous outfits. I found him hysterical in some of his manic breakdown scenes, but I also found him inconsistent at other times; where I felt his "acting".
Jeremy Renner is excellent as the likeable, naive NJ mayor who is being conned. His performance felt the most natural & relaxed of this zany group. Louis C.K. made me laugh as Richie's sad sack boss. There are a few other fun cameos sprinkled throughout. And last but not least is Jennifer Lawrence. Just as in last year's Oscar-winning role, I feel as though she is a tad too young to be the mature, shrewish, hellcat wife that she plays here. But you can't take your eyes off of her (or her big hair, haha); she's got that something that reels you in. She's funny in an unhinged, ditzy kind of way. And you wait for her to return every time she goes away.
So yeah, the standard con plot is too labyrinthine for its own good & needlessly chatty. But the detail of the 1970s production design/costumes/hair/make-up is wonderful -- I felt transported. There's also a fun, varied 1970s soundtrack throughout that enhances the visuals we see. 'AH' is the perfect example of style (and performance) over substance. I just think that said plot & the editing needed more focus, energy, and/or zip. As I walked out of my theater, most people were talking about the actors & how fun they were, not about the con plot or how clever it was. Darkly funny with a cool 1970s vibe ... but there's just little to take away from it when it's over. The real reason to seek this movie out is to watch the fun, flashy performances.
He meets a stunning woman named Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who, despite Irving's appearance (a fantastic opening sequence shows just how overweight & balding he is), is somehow attracted to him as well as being seduced by his $$-making schemes; as a cover, she pretends to be a British lady; using her feminine wiles & inflecting an accent. But problems arise early. Irving has a young trophy wife named Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) with a child and, well, Rosalyn is a bit of a loose cannon {NEVER tell her a secret}. Things come to a head when FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) busts Irving & Sydney. But Richie has a plan of his own to make $$millions, so he brings them in on his take. Honestly, this ABSCAM 'con' becomes a bit complicated, but it all has something to do with ripping off the mob & busting "corrupt" senators, members of the HoR, as well as beloved NJ mayor, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Much ... well, MUCH ensues.
The look/feel/vibe/plot here reminds me of a lesser Boogie Nights or an old school minor-Scorsese flick (thanks to the mob tie-in). THIS movie does not have the same verve & narrative propulsion (or clarity!) of those movies. Its script rambles way too much; feels unwieldy (particularly at 130 minutes in length). But the film is still fairly entertaining in its own right. That is mostly due to the performances from the ensemble. I mean, I like how the screenplay is riddled with wit & humor throughout, but the plot is not overly engaging, and the film wouldn't be what it is without these actors.
Christian Bale, as usual, loses himself in the character he plays thanks to his method acting. You just have to take one look at his Irving, listen to him, observe him, & know who this guy is. Bale is superb in his sympathetic/pathetic-ness. Amy Adams is sexy, desperate, & conniving. I just wish she was given more to do; more dialogue, more narrative meat to chew on. But what she gives us is stellar. Bradley Cooper's Richie is basically an insecure lunatic with lofty goals, permed hair, & ridiculous outfits. I found him hysterical in some of his manic breakdown scenes, but I also found him inconsistent at other times; where I felt his "acting".
Jeremy Renner is excellent as the likeable, naive NJ mayor who is being conned. His performance felt the most natural & relaxed of this zany group. Louis C.K. made me laugh as Richie's sad sack boss. There are a few other fun cameos sprinkled throughout. And last but not least is Jennifer Lawrence. Just as in last year's Oscar-winning role, I feel as though she is a tad too young to be the mature, shrewish, hellcat wife that she plays here. But you can't take your eyes off of her (or her big hair, haha); she's got that something that reels you in. She's funny in an unhinged, ditzy kind of way. And you wait for her to return every time she goes away.
So yeah, the standard con plot is too labyrinthine for its own good & needlessly chatty. But the detail of the 1970s production design/costumes/hair/make-up is wonderful -- I felt transported. There's also a fun, varied 1970s soundtrack throughout that enhances the visuals we see. 'AH' is the perfect example of style (and performance) over substance. I just think that said plot & the editing needed more focus, energy, and/or zip. As I walked out of my theater, most people were talking about the actors & how fun they were, not about the con plot or how clever it was. Darkly funny with a cool 1970s vibe ... but there's just little to take away from it when it's over. The real reason to seek this movie out is to watch the fun, flashy performances.