David O.Russell Surprising and Entertaining Us Like Always!

Rating: 8/10 (11 January 2014)

David O.Russell very well knows how to surprise and entertain his audience. The last two films he made, one a sports-drama ('The Fighter'), and the other a romantic comedy/drama ('Silver Linings Playbook'), were brilliantly directed. And now in this movie, a crime-drama set in the late 70's, he brings back four of his talented stars, two from each of his previous two movies, and gets a spectacular result.
Though the story revolves around con-artists, feds and politicians, the amount of depth it has and the way it explores each of its characters is what's beautiful about the movie. The hopes, the dreams, the ambitions, the cons, the fears, the loneliness, the pain - everything is at a human level, which makes the characters so genuine and relatable. It had been long since I saw a crime-drama which had deep characters rather than caricatures walking around.
Christian Bale, the perfectionist, completely embodies the character of Irving Rosenfeld who's a fat, partially-bald and witty con-artist. Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper are terrific as well in their new characters. And Jennifer Lawrence, who has such less screen time compared to the other three, really shines as the naive blonde ball-busting wife (of Irving) with a big mouth and careless attitude. She plays it with so much heart, and her confrontational scene in the ladies' washroom with Amy Adams is unforgettable. Jeremy Renner and Louis C.K. are wonderful additions to the cast, and fit in quite well.
Another thing I really have to mention is the movie's soundtrack. It's breathtaking, and really encompasses the feel of the character's emotions and the era it represents.
I hope Russell keeps coming up with such brilliant movies.