Game On!

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2014)

This film is highly recommended.
The comb-over, that not-so-subtle way of camouflaging your own flaws so that others might see you in a different light. Perhaps, it's just a self-fulfilling prophecy, a means of vanity over delusion, a fight against the helplessness of aging. Literally, it's all a slight of hand, a desperate attempt at concealing the obvious truth and garnering personal acceptance at any cost. This startling opening image, that of a con man named Irving Rosenfeld (a portly Christian Bale) preening before a mirror, begins American Hustle, David O. Russell's dramedy about grifters and their schemes to get what they want.
Even before this clever opening shot, American Hustle begins with the following disclaimer: Some of this actually happened. This title card zeroes in on the perfect comic tone for the film and the Abscam sting operation of the late 1970's becomes Russell's inspiration. The film uses fictitious characters to show the ongoing corruption of governmental leaders during that era. And characters they are, fully realized and played for our utmost farcical enjoyment!
The film's characters are of the Guys and Dolls variety, a screwball assortment of Runyonesque endearing quirks and lowlife mobster stereotypes. Besides Irving, the mastermind of the scam, we also meet Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) Irving's sexy and cunning moll and mistress, their target, Carmine Politio (Jeremy Renner), all swagger pompadour and good intentions as an ambitious New Jersey mayor, Rosalyn Rosenfeld (Jennifer Lawrence), Irving's trophy wife (if the trophy in question is Best Dimwit of 1978), a modern reworking of the Miss Adelaine type of gal, and FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), a vain and obsessively slick operator out to get them all.
The ensemble is wonderful. Bale literally carries the weight of the film and creates a complex character driven by greed and his need for living the high life. Cooper energizes the film with a fervor of zealousness and brashness that sets all the antics in motion. Renner plays his character as a sincere dolt wanting his share of fame and glory with an exacting ineptitude. This male trio play off each other so very well. But it is their female counterparts that spin the film into the comic and strangely tragic stratosphere. With her many accents and characterizations, Adams' Sydney conveys a full range of emotions from her street smart petty criminal to the elegant and sophisticated Lady Edith. Lawrence's Rosalyn is a wonderful ditz, a floozy who is quick to react without realizing the consequences from her words or deeds. She steals every scene she's in. (The film's high point is when these two actresses have a memorable altercation in the ladies room about their role in Irving's life.) Strong support by Louis C.K., Michael Pena, Jack Huston, Alessandro Nivola, Shea Whigham, and Elisabeth Rohm round out this perfect cast.
Russell's script, co-written with Eric Singer, is a throwback to the quick banter of the Hollywood screwball comedies of the 40's. The dialog is quick-witted and sly, even if the situation causes more serious repercussions for all those involved. The direction is concise and detailed, from his larger-than-life characters down to the polyester period costumes and 70's pop music soundtrack. Russell's production team outdoes themselves with special mention going to costume designer Michael Wilkinson, the fine art direction of Jesse Rosenthal, and Linus Sandgren's fluid cinematography.
American Hustle is a delightful con game that keeps the movie-going audience guessing right up until the film reaches its foregone conclusion. Russell has added yet another fine film to his impressive resume that already includes: Three Kings, The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and I Heart Hucklebees (well, let's not include the latter). American Hustle may will be this prolific director's best work to date. It certainly is one of the best movies of 2013. GRADE: A-
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