Review of “American Hustle”

Now with no spoilers! (I hope...)

This film was sold to me by a friend. “Basically, it’s Batman and JLaw with that guy from the ‘A’ Team and a British chick.” Sounds marvellous. But then I discovered it was directed by David O. Russell. His previous movie “Silver Linings Playbook” was one of my top five films of 2012 and won Jennifer Lawrence her first Oscar. [Note to future reviews – expect heavy bias in favour of the fabulous Jennifer Lawrence. Especially as she is scheduled to be in four movies this year!] Now I was starting to get excited. 

In the late 1970’s con artists Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are in a tight squeeze. They have been caught red handed by FBI agent Richie Di Maso (Bradly Cooper) and given an ultimatum – go to prison or work for him to catch corrupt public figures. Things soon spiral out of control as the scheme ensnares the naive but loved Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremey Renner) of New Jersey. As the scope of the trap is widened, Irving and Sydney get caught in a crush between their Federal handlers and the mob. They must now pull off their greatest con yet; but not for cash, this time it’s for their lives.

When the advertisements ended and the movie began we already get taken in by the magic hands of David O. Russell. You know those intros at the start of a movie were you see a short graphic for the film studio and special effect company? Well it took me a minute to realise that they were not sparkly new nor did the screen itself look particularly sharp. Realisation was slow in coming. Emersion! From BEFORE the credits, the director is immersing the viewer into the late 1970’s. It never losses this edge. “American Hustle” could have been made in 1978. Fact. It looks and feels it the whole way through. Magic stuff!

 

Director David O. Russell

Where to start talking about the cast? Just like “Silver Linings Playbook” this is a character driven film. With a punchy and smart script, a director who can herd humans into being humans, this was going to be a job! Bradley Cooper. Bradley what the hell Cooper. This is the guy from “The ‘A’ Team”, the “Hangover” trilogy and “Wedding Crashers.” When the hell did he learn to act and why did no one tell me? [Note – I have wanted to right this since seeing “Silver Linings Playbook” but didn’t have a blog back then]. He rocks it out as Di Maso. We are never quite sure if our FBI agent is smarter than the conning couple, a moron who got lucky or if in fact he is completely crazy. Or maybe just a small guy grabbing his chance to be big. Either way, you can never quite hate Di Maso and part of you will cheer for him (he is trying to stop political corruption after all).

Christian Bale still manages to own ‘leading male’ despite a comb over to die for and a pot belly. First off, great makeup. Secondly, a fantastic performance. However, Bale does it again and manages to not be the best male actor in a movie. This is a Christian Bale thing. I’m not sure if its bad luck, a lack of definitive presence or in fact great acting. Maybe he is so good that the movie becomes camouflage forcing the viewer to find something shinny like the Joker or Matthew McConaughey chasing dragons. Either way, Cooper dominates more in a supporting role. 

Amy Adams first appeared on my radar last year as Lois Lane in “Man of Steel.” I hope to see more of her after this movie! Adams nails the role of female lead. This is essential because “American Hustle” is about two con artists. It is so easy to think of couples as single entities’ but she brings a different energy to the natural man of the people role filled by Bale. Her sexiness and vulnerability are all crucial to the con trade and Adams gives it her best. Great stuff. Also, side boob. In about half her scenes. Seriously. Good stuff.

In one trailer for the movie, Rosalyn Rosenfeld (Jennifer Lawrence) was introduced by her husband as being “The Picasso of passive aggressive karate.” Now not only is that a beautiful line but it would be written on the side of her action figure packaging to boot. Lawrence has already won a Golden Globe for her performance in this movie. A second Oscar might be on the cards too. Brilliant performance. I could say more about her performance but it would all be good.

I don’t want to go on about the whole cast but special mention to Jeremey Renner and Robert De Nero. The script and director gave them a stage to shine and the actors to bounce off. Well played.

     Bradley sandwich. Now with the best bread in town!

“American Hustle” is a cinema treat. We are always left guessing over who is really being hustled. It even begins with the audience. Two characters get voice overs during the introduction stage. This is usually a treat reserved for the protagonist so by having two actors do it we are not quite sure who’s movie this is. This is a film about hustling. Get over it! It’s going to get you to think one thing while doing something else. It’s going to show you one side of a character but not the other. There is a lot going on and you have to keep up. Perhaps too much. What do I mean? When researching the film I discovered that it was a comedy drama. This surprised me. I had laughed many times during the movie but never would I have called it a comedy. On reflection I have changed my opinion, but this shows just how heavy the movie is. You have a film with so much substance to take in that your mind is engaged for the entire viewing. This active enjoyment is somewhat draining after two hours. But back to hustling. One of my friends asked me “Why is it called ‘American’ Hustle?” Good question. Hustle would have done just as well. After thinking about it I think the name is another angle of the story and one which Christian Bales character answers on screen. We all hustle for different reasons. Our two main characters do it to make money and then to survive. But always there is a sense that they are doing everything they can to ‘make it.’ We never quite focus on the people their scams ruin. Because it’s not their problem. Why the American Hustle? Because it’s just another side to the American Dream. 

Just a picture of Jennifer Lawrence dancing to “Live and Let Die” while cleaning. Deal with it society!

Once again I feel I have panned a movie I loved. Go and see this film. The story, acting, script and music are fantastic. It is genuinely entertaining and engrossing.

I give “American Hustle” four and a half Brian faces out of five.