Good film, but if this would've won Best Picture perhaps the con would've been on us

Rating: 8/10 (13 March 2014)

American Hustle is written and directed by David O. Russel
So, here comes what most critics like to pick as the Oscar favorite – it shouldn't be, greater films than this has been released since (IMO), however there is no denying that this film has already been laden with a ton of award nods and a good amount of award wins. Such as award wins via the Golden Globes, the SAG etc. And a good amount of nods via the Oscars, BAFTA Awards etc.
This could be described as director David O. Russel's own mini-avengers, he re-teams with his actors from The Fighter (Bale and Adams) and Silver Linings Playbook (Cooper and Lawrence) to bring you a 70′s period comedy/crime piece, some of which "actually happened", according to an on screen caption at the start.
Now, here's my thought and opinions on the film, but first off let me tell you that it is OK for me and you to disagree in some areas, that's what makes the film community so great and awesome. All film is subjective. That being said, let's jump in.
American Hustle is a good film with more comedy than perhaps you'd be expecting – BUT it's just that, a good film. Not the masterpiece critics have been raving about. Its over-the-top nature is very evident in many places of the film, and tonally, occasionally I can see how that would wrong foot the audience.
Lavished with Oscar nods for acting, it's fair to say that in my opinion Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper are the only ones who deserve the nods. Now, I don't think either of them deserve to win (perhaps Bale), but at least I think they both deserve it more so than Adams and Lawrence. Lawrence who I fear may be going home with her second Oscar this year, which would be undeserved for this role. Had she been nominated for HG: Catching Fire, I might have been a lot more OK with it.
From the start, Bale convinced me as the film opens with a long one-take scene (which I love) whilst he exerts massive effort to create the perfect comb-over.
Lawrence, as Irving's young wife who behaves like a brat (and admittedly brings some funny moments) plays her character kind of over the top, I got the sense of over acting, this isn't to say she was bad but definitely not as good as she is getting cred for. I mean even Jeremy Renner puts her to shame with a very quietly dignified character as someone who's trying to do the best for his people and the city.
Now something I think should only be used to a certain degree in a film like this, is the use (or rather over-use) of voice overs. Now, in a film like The Wolf of Wallstreet the story is told from a single and specific POV, that's why it works. It is him telling us his side of a story.
But in a film like this, no.. The over-use of voice overs leads to feelings of dizziness and convolution in the story. I think on some level Russel aimed at disorienting and confusing the audience, perhaps it was to take our minds away from the fact that you never really cared all that much about most characters in the film, and as the story unfolds it's almost as if Russell is determined and will stop at nothing to stop you from keeping up.
In fact, American Hustle is really a simple story. It is a simple story that has been put layer upon layer of unnecessary convolution. At its heart, it's about the pursuit of the American dream, but that does not shine through in the end. The movie has some pretty good comedic elements to it, and I think Louis C.K. is to thank for a lot of it. I've seen some critics call this David O. Russel's version of "Goodfellas", personally I think it might be his attempt at making his own classic but it does not come close.
All in all, American Hustle is all about the spin; ultimately shallow but with some great performances, admittedly it's a very intriguing choice for such awards success, because whilst it's still a solidly showy film, it's not a totally engrossing one, with costumes, scenery and era recreation taking centre stage.
Maybe best costume or set design or something like that, maybe (but not really) even best cinematograpghy.
But if this movie wins Best Picture, the con is perhaps, on us.