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American Hustle

Rating

Director
David O. Russell
Screenplay
Eric Singer, David O. Russell
Length
138 min.
Starring
Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Jack Huston, Michael Pena, Shea Whigham, Alessandro Nivola, Elisabeth Rohm, Paul Herman
MPAA Rating
R for pervasive language, some sexual content and brief violence

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Review
Movies have always played fast and loose with the facts of real events in order to goose up the entertainment value of their movies. Therefore, when David O. Russell decided to loosely set his fictional con film American Hustle against the backdrop of the New Jersey ABSCAM scandal, it’s no surprise that that basis was going to be embellished and enhanced.

In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, a ring of crooked deals were captured on video by the Federal Bureau of Investigation aided by a convicted con-man leading to nearly a dozen arrests including U.S. senators, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and a handful of other politicians in the state of New Jersey. The details of the sting are mostly in tact in Russell’s film, but according to a notice at the start of the film, “some of this actually happened.” Putting that forward in advance allows audience members who may be familiar an opportunity to dissociate what they know from what’s depicted.

Christian Bale takes the lead as Irving Rosenfeld, a small-time con-man who deals in stolen and faked art as well as fake loan scams assisted by his paramour Sydney Prosser / Lady Edith Greensly (Amy Adams). Caught in one of his cons by an ambitious FBI investigator (Bradley Cooper), the pair are forced to assist the FBI in nabbing other con artists and crooks in the area. When a chain of evidence mounts that leads towards corruption in the office of Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), Cooper concocts a scam that will ultimately bring down senators, representatives and the mayor himself.

Irked by his forced employment by the FBI, Irving discovers mob ties that may ultimately lead to his own death, leading him to begin a scheme of his own to get out from under Richie DiMaso’s (Cooper) thumb. Complicating matters further are the affections and interference of his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) who despises his new lover and tries desperately to retain Irving’s attention.

Russell’s cadre of “contract” players are united with three stars from his prior film, Silver Linings Playbook, and two from a previous effort, The Fighter. Renner is new to the team, but contributes one of the most humane and compelling characters in the film. From The Fighter, Bale and Adams are an interesting pair, neither perfectly fitting with one another, but that may more to do with the irredeemable nature of Bale’s Irving Rosenfeld. He’s done such good work in the past that comparatively, this is a weaker performance for him. Adams, on the other hand, continues to show a broad range of style shifting from gullible innocent (Enchanted and The Muppets) to tousled wisdom (Her) to conniving glamour here. She isn’t afraid to take chances, though unlike her co-star Lawrence, there’s always enough of her standard charm in each performance to link them all together.

Lawrence. She is a chameleon, bouncing around between comedy and drama with equal flair, anchoring tentpoles and dazzling in small, independent roles. She’s an actress that I can no longer compare to Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor had some great performances in her career, but never had the chutzpah or startling, unrivaled talent Lawrence has. She redefines the terms actress and movie star blending them so effortlessly that you’d think she was giving a well-researched performance.

Her Silver Linings Playbook co-star, Cooper, does exemplary work. If he can steer clear of wasteful appearances in franchise where he doesn’t apply himself, he could be a Cary Grant-kind of star, a charmer who is adept at comedy and drama, but still retains his essential talent. He may never achieve the career heights and acting accomplishments that Grant did, but he’ll be an everyman you love to watch.

The liberties films have taken this year alone are enough to write an entire article on and I’ve even seen a few critics put one together. American Hustle probably tinkers with the truth more than any other film, but like those many others, doesn’t lose any of its fun or wit in the process. If anything, embellishing the facts can generate insight into a subject that might otherwise be exsanguinated by a lack of dramatic tension.

American Hustle is entertaining, largely because Lawrence is having such a great time; however, there’s plenty of fun to be had by all of our players, Cooper and our mysterious cameo actor included. If you want a film that’s purely entertaining without a measurable amount of thematic depth, this is your film. If you’re hoping for something with a bit more bite, you might be disappointed.
Review Written
January 24, 2014

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