7 Golden Globe nominations don’t lie. David Russell is a master in his craft. With amazing successes such as The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, Russell takes you beyond a story and allows you to fall in love with the characters. That’s what I love about Russell’s films. The way he dives deep into getting to know all of the characters. You’ll fall in love with them or hate them by the end of the film.
American Hustle is set in the 70’s and completely embodies everything about the era. It is loosely based on the Abscam Scandal which was an FBI sting operation to bring down white-collar crime and political corruption. American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that’s as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.
I have to say, Amy Adams completely blew me away in this role. My favorite performance from her by far. Christian Bale gained 43 pounds for this part and although he was a con man, you really do fall in love with his character. Because he is a man with spirit and pride. He tries to do the right thing with the people around him. Their chemistry is igniting.
Jennifer Lawrence plays Irving’s estranged wife, Rosalyn, that doesn’t believe in divorce. She has a son from a previous relationship but Irving adopted him and fully takes on the role of his father. Rosalyn is a manic long island housewife that barely handle herself but has master her own forms of manipulation. She’s erratic throughout the film and eventually helps everyone get their way.
The film was fantastic, my only complaint is that is was terrible long. It could have been a little faster passed and focused on the con more. There were scenes that I felt could have been left out completely that wouldn’t have harmed your love for the characters at all. Still a fantastic movie though. The ensemble cast makes every second worth it. You even get a special guest appearance by Robert De Niro.
American Hustle is in theaters now!
