Review – American Hustle

While not as neatly arranged as his 2012 Oscar darling, Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell’s latest, American Hustle, is another entertaining, often hilarious spectacle that’s easily one of the year’s best.

The film is very loosely based on the ABSCAM scandal in the late 1970s where the FBI’s investigation of stolen property trafficking grew to include a political corruption bust.

Russell and co-writer Eric Singer tip their irreverent style of storytelling with the first words on screen Some of this actually happened. In other words, sit back and enjoy the ride without expecting this to be some stuffy, preening Oscar contender. Hustle is all but a guaranteed Oscar nomination lock anyway thanks to the impeccable cast and Russell’s fun-spirited direction, but there’s a lot more laughs than the regular Oscar favorites.

Russell opts for a three-person narrator format told through professional con man Irvin Rosenfeld (Christian Bale, Out of the Furnace), his girlfriend/partner, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams, Man of Steel) and Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper, The Hangover Part III), the impulsive FBI agent coercing them to work with him in taking down corrupt officials.

While Irvin’s adept at playing others, he’s only a sucker for his volatile wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire perfectly channeling a Casino-era Sharon Stone), which could throw a monkey wrench in Richie’s plans.

Cooper establishes Richie as an overconfident dominant figure unafraid to impose his will on anyone no matter who gets in his way, including his by-the-book boss Stoddard Thorsen (Louis C.K., Blue Jasmine).

Richie’s end game involves taking down Carmine Polito (a very likable Jeremy Renner, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters), the beloved mayor of Camden, New Jersey, but with so many unpredictable personalities, Richie’s plans have little chance of going as smoothly as he anticipates.

In the last two years, Russell has guided Adams and Cooper to Oscar nominations and Bale and Lawrence to Oscar wins. The trust level they have in him is evident as they all go outside their acting comfort zone in creating some very distinct and memorable characters.

Bale is the best chameleon actor in Hollywood right now. Once again he manages to get completely lost in a role. Irvin isn’t Bale’s normal authoritative character, which he further illustrates by packing on a reported 40 pounds, giving Irvin a slouch and constantly getting flustered when reaching for his medication. Bale shows a surprisingly vulnerable side here and allows Irvin to be a sympathetic figure even as he’s conning people.

Lawrence is lively and fierce, but Rosalyn is less a character than a combustible element in the film made unforgettable only by Lawrence’s energetic efforts at stealing all of her scenes. For all the supporting actress award buzz Lawrence is receiving, Adams actually delivers the more complex, if not as showy, role.

At times, the script seems to get away from Russell and Singer and the narrative doesn’t come together as tightly as it should. Fortunately the cast is there to bail those dead scenes out and when this level of talent is on its game like this, the script inconsistencies just doesn’t seem as important.

While too many filmmakers get their kicks mocking the 70s style, Russell treats the era with a certain air of respect and celebrates the decadence — a nightclub scene is one of the film’s highlights — and carefree nature of the time. Michael Wilkinson’s fantastic costumes help further set the environment and the soundtrack featuring Donna Summer and Elton John completes the journey back to the disco era.

Don’t get distracted by all the quick talking, double-crosses or backstabbing. Just sit back and enjoy some of today’s most talented masters of their craft doing what they do best in a film that will leave you feeling anything but ripped off once it’s over.

Rating: 9 out of 10

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