Fascinating Trick

Rating: 8/10 (8 February 2014)

American Hustle begins with a title card written "Some of this actually happened" which in mind immediately indicates that the film doesn't entirely care about the actual events of the Abscam scandal and rather follows its more comfortable storytelling as an acting playground meant to win awards. The ambition was neither breaking any grounds nor trying to be complex, but to deliver what the director and the actors do best, plus taking those pleasures to a pulpy setting. Nevertheless, it's a very entertaining film and whatever it ended up might be exactly what the film itself wants.
If you've seen director David O. Russell's last two films then you may know what you're going to get. Unpredictably, the characters are the center of the plot, but now each of them shows their own perspective by narration and backstories, mashed together to move the process of their schemes. Their personal struggle and moral dilemmas aren't exactly as subtle as it deserves, the film's biggest interest is to add humor and flavor within the situation, but it manages to make it a lot interesting because indeed that is what the movie does best.
But that does not mean it never gets to be serious, the deepness is mostly relied on the performances. Christian Bale somewhat transcends by embracing whatever his character needs to be and he handles it excellently. Amy Adams is best when she's expressing the confusion and pain of her character, result as a great enough performance. Bradley Cooper once again shines by his charisma. Jennifer Lawrence brings her natural energy which makes her role's unhinged personality rather effective. It's inevitable to mention how the direction attempts to make its own Goodfellas, but I guess the film is having fun imitating the style. The rest of the surface is just covered with stuff worth of gold.
American Hustle is pretty self-indulgent, glossed over with rich production. It's definitely not a bad thing, but there are things that could have been somewhere much farther, but again the film doesn't seem to care. It just wants to be stylish and ironic, giving plenty of life by its terrific actors. Some might think it's a scam for not taking the history seriously, but look, there is a humorous opening title card and a glowing quality that will blind the audience from its lack of depth. American Hustle is not perfect, but it's a fascinating trick that is worth seeing.