Two times two plus one more (and then.)

Rating: Null/10 (1 February 2014)

Don't be late if you do not want to miss what has been unabashedly publicized – how Christian Bale sacrificed his looks by acquiring a pot-belly that was a part of his 50 pound weight gain, as well as a head with barely discernible hair. Well, the pot-belly you get another chance to see in a later scene showing him sitting opposite Amy Adams, soon after their respective characters made their first acquaintance. However, the delicious scene showing the elaborate creating a full head of hair with glue, synthetic and real hair comes only at the beginning. However, if you ask me, any and all of these sacrifices made by performing artists in the name of performing arts are completely and conclusively dwarfed if you have seen Charlize Theron in Monster (2003).
The plots develop along two dimensions. First, there a convoluted heist some of which have actually happened, as playfully intimated at the opening credits. Based on an F.B.I. project in the 70s but with all real names changed, it tells how agent Richie (Bradley Cooper), in exchange for passing up a sure-win prosecution, forces con couple Irving (Bale) and Sydney (Amy Adams) to join him in cooking up a con trap (involving a phantom super-rich sheikh) to round up a corrupt mayor (Jeremy Renner) and half-dozen Congressmen. A delicious addition to form a quintet is Irving's estranged (but no luck in divorcing) wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence). Supporting this top-notch quintet is a marvelous ensemble which leads me to wish that this movie will be rendered into a musical someday.
The other is a love story (or love stories, as there are complications). The very moment Irving and Sydney meet, they are magnetically attracted to each other. Through alternate VOs from these two love-at-first-sight victims, we get the feeling that it's akin to two bridge players who perfectly understand each other's bid without even checking systems in advance, or two opera singers who strike up a perfectly harmonious resonance with the very first note coming out of their vocal cords. This made-in-heaven match however is not without vicissitudes. The charismatic charm of Richie is one reason and, believe it or not, cluelessness has a certain charm of its own as Rosalyn steadfastly insists on clinging onto Irving's life.
The summary line refers to the two lineups David O. Russell assembled from his two recent successful movies (between which were 6 Oscar acting nominations producing 3 wins): Bale plus Adams from "The fighter" and Coopers plus Lawrence from "Sliver lining playbook". "One more" is Renner. Finally, "and then." refers to a terrific cameo for which the film promoters, critics, as well as IMDb, are at pains to hide the credit. As a responsible audience, I am not going to ruin the fun. The character is indeed a cameo, one top gangster who in his hit-man days 20 years ago was best known for not burying his fine work to make sure that a point is made. By saying as much, I am afraid I have already let the cat out of the bag.