Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper
Rating: Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and brief violence
A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner, Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.
Initial Reaction:
Ever since "American Hustle" was announced as a thing way back in January this film has been one of my most anticipated films of 2013. David O. Russell right off my favorite film of 2012 "Silver Linings Playbook" and a cast featuring a group of my favorites (Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Amy Adams) doing a 1970's crime film instantly sold me. The film completely went under the radar until December once the Golden Globe Awards were announced where the film ended up with 7 nominations (Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Writing, Acting Awards for Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Amy Adams) which made this film even more anticipated on my behalf. Usually with films like this that are highly anticipated and critical darlings I usually find myself let down by the hype but "American Hustle" is definitely not one of those film as it is one of the best films I have seen all year in 2013.
Ever since "American Hustle" was announced as a thing way back in January this film has been one of my most anticipated films of 2013. David O. Russell right off my favorite film of 2012 "Silver Linings Playbook" and a cast featuring a group of my favorites (Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Amy Adams) doing a 1970's crime film instantly sold me. The film completely went under the radar until December once the Golden Globe Awards were announced where the film ended up with 7 nominations (Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Writing, Acting Awards for Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Amy Adams) which made this film even more anticipated on my behalf. Usually with films like this that are highly anticipated and critical darlings I usually find myself let down by the hype but "American Hustle" is definitely not one of those film as it is one of the best films I have seen all year in 2013.
Plot: (4.5/5)
The plot of this film follows the FBI Abscam Operations of the 1970's, and being unfamiliar with the story chose to not look into it to avoid spoilers and recommend that to anyone unfamiliar with the story. Even though it's a true story it gives the film a level of intensity not knowing how it's gonna turn out and helped keep me on the edge of my seat during the 2 hour running time. Even if you are in the group of the people who know the story of the Abscam operations, David O. Russell presents the film in such an entertaining manner that even if you know the outcome, seeing the journey is just as fun. David O. Russell sets out to make a group of characters who would normally be seen bad and one dimensional and adds depth to show why they become the way they are. It makes it more entertaining to see how these people's life turn out. The reason my score or the plot gets took off a .5 is because sometimes the story gets confusing. There are a lot of different sides in the story (FBI, Christian Bale, and the Mob) and sometimes I lost track of what was going on. A story that makes you stay involved the whole time is considered a good thing but they spent so much time on the characters that some times it seemed to overshadow the plot. Other than the occasional confusion in the plot, the film worked incredibly well and kept me guessing the whole time and I was worried of how they were going to end the film and the ending of the film was definitely satisfying.
The plot of this film follows the FBI Abscam Operations of the 1970's, and being unfamiliar with the story chose to not look into it to avoid spoilers and recommend that to anyone unfamiliar with the story. Even though it's a true story it gives the film a level of intensity not knowing how it's gonna turn out and helped keep me on the edge of my seat during the 2 hour running time. Even if you are in the group of the people who know the story of the Abscam operations, David O. Russell presents the film in such an entertaining manner that even if you know the outcome, seeing the journey is just as fun. David O. Russell sets out to make a group of characters who would normally be seen bad and one dimensional and adds depth to show why they become the way they are. It makes it more entertaining to see how these people's life turn out. The reason my score or the plot gets took off a .5 is because sometimes the story gets confusing. There are a lot of different sides in the story (FBI, Christian Bale, and the Mob) and sometimes I lost track of what was going on. A story that makes you stay involved the whole time is considered a good thing but they spent so much time on the characters that some times it seemed to overshadow the plot. Other than the occasional confusion in the plot, the film worked incredibly well and kept me guessing the whole time and I was worried of how they were going to end the film and the ending of the film was definitely satisfying.
Directing: (4.5/5)
Ever since his career resurgance in 2010, David O. Russell has fastly became one of my favorite directors. After "The Fighter", "The Silver Linings Playbook", and now "American Hustle", David O. Russel has definitely positioned himself as one of the elite directors now. The way David O. Russell mixes his various styles of filmmaking as dealing with rough and detached characters and putting them into situations that make the evaluate their life and situations works really well in this film. He presents all these characters as multi layered people and even the background characters in this film feel like real people we would see in everyday life. It made the subplots of the film work better when you are more involved in the characters. He also goes out of his way to make the film feel very period in the late 1970's, from the music, to the language, to the way people acted all made me feel like I was actually in that period.
Ever since his career resurgance in 2010, David O. Russell has fastly became one of my favorite directors. After "The Fighter", "The Silver Linings Playbook", and now "American Hustle", David O. Russel has definitely positioned himself as one of the elite directors now. The way David O. Russell mixes his various styles of filmmaking as dealing with rough and detached characters and putting them into situations that make the evaluate their life and situations works really well in this film. He presents all these characters as multi layered people and even the background characters in this film feel like real people we would see in everyday life. It made the subplots of the film work better when you are more involved in the characters. He also goes out of his way to make the film feel very period in the late 1970's, from the music, to the language, to the way people acted all made me feel like I was actually in that period.
Acting: (5/5)
If the film is anything, it is an actor's film. The film features an ensemble cast of David O. Russell's past films with Christian Bale and Amy Adams ("The Fighter"), and Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook") alongside other actors such as Jeremy Renner and Louis CK. Every actor in the film did a great job and the entire ensemble are already sweeping acting award nominations at all the awards shows. Usually when I see a film get this much hype from awards shows and tend to not get to involved in the performances because it's like someone is telling you to like these performances but in this case the people who vote on these awards shows are right. The best acting performance in the film has to go to Christian Bale. If their one thing that Christian Bale is known for is how he immerses himself into a role. If it is gaining a lot of muscle ("Batman Begins") or losing a lot of weight ("The Machinist") he goes out of his way to become a character and that is no different here. Christian Bale puts on a lot of weight and has a comb-over that leaves a lot to desire and for a while you actually see him as this character and not Christian Bale, which at this point in his career is a big testament to the actor. Even though he wasn't a good person he made the character likable and root able. He definitely deserves to win best actor in a comedy/musical at the Golden Globes. The other stand out of the cast had to be Jennifer Lawrence. At this point in her career I would have to say that Jennifer Lawrence can do now wrong. No matter what she does I instantly love her, and this film sees her playing a completely different character. Even though she has the least to do in the film I can understand why she got the supporting actress nomination and is at the center point of all the advertisements for the film. Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams are also really good in the film as well but my thing with them is I just felt myself more into what Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence was doing but by no fact does that underestimate how great their performances were as well. All of the supporting actors were just as good and is one of the best acting jobs I've seen by an ensemble this year.
If the film is anything, it is an actor's film. The film features an ensemble cast of David O. Russell's past films with Christian Bale and Amy Adams ("The Fighter"), and Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook") alongside other actors such as Jeremy Renner and Louis CK. Every actor in the film did a great job and the entire ensemble are already sweeping acting award nominations at all the awards shows. Usually when I see a film get this much hype from awards shows and tend to not get to involved in the performances because it's like someone is telling you to like these performances but in this case the people who vote on these awards shows are right. The best acting performance in the film has to go to Christian Bale. If their one thing that Christian Bale is known for is how he immerses himself into a role. If it is gaining a lot of muscle ("Batman Begins") or losing a lot of weight ("The Machinist") he goes out of his way to become a character and that is no different here. Christian Bale puts on a lot of weight and has a comb-over that leaves a lot to desire and for a while you actually see him as this character and not Christian Bale, which at this point in his career is a big testament to the actor. Even though he wasn't a good person he made the character likable and root able. He definitely deserves to win best actor in a comedy/musical at the Golden Globes. The other stand out of the cast had to be Jennifer Lawrence. At this point in her career I would have to say that Jennifer Lawrence can do now wrong. No matter what she does I instantly love her, and this film sees her playing a completely different character. Even though she has the least to do in the film I can understand why she got the supporting actress nomination and is at the center point of all the advertisements for the film. Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams are also really good in the film as well but my thing with them is I just felt myself more into what Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence was doing but by no fact does that underestimate how great their performances were as well. All of the supporting actors were just as good and is one of the best acting jobs I've seen by an ensemble this year.
Replay Ability/ Recommend: (5/5)
In the midst of award season a lot of big films are going to be coming out, but if I could recommend one to you it would definitely be "American Hustle." "American Hustle" shows what happens when you put together a great director, great acting, and a great story all together. This is definitely one of the best films of 2013 and is definite contender to win best picture in February. I recommend every to see this film and I honestly believe everyone will enjoy this film on some level.
In the midst of award season a lot of big films are going to be coming out, but if I could recommend one to you it would definitely be "American Hustle." "American Hustle" shows what happens when you put together a great director, great acting, and a great story all together. This is definitely one of the best films of 2013 and is definite contender to win best picture in February. I recommend every to see this film and I honestly believe everyone will enjoy this film on some level.
Final Grade: (4.8/5)(A+)
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