Not Perfect, But a Lot of Fun

Rating: 7/10 (31 January 2014)

If you took the wittiest and most entertaining parts of Ben Affleck's Argo and amped them up to Monty Python levels of farce, you'd get the basic feel of David O. Russell's American Hustle. With all the controversy surrounding Hustle's Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, I walked in expecting an out-and-out drama. But a comedy it is, and a darn funny one, at that. It's practically a throwback to Preston Sturges, in that the plot doesn't really matter; it overlaps, contradicts itself, and loops back around in a glorious mess.
Christian Bale is absolutely dynamite as overweight con man Irving Rosenfeld, who is introduced to us in a lengthy scene wherein he combs his hair. Well, combs is an understatement for the elaborate comb-over and toupee patchwork that sits atop his head. It's a brilliant introduction to a small-time con, a sleazy character in a movie brimming with them.
While Rosenfeld and his assistant/mistress Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams in her best role to date) may be sleazy, they certainly aren't stupid. They are successful in their line of work, which happens to involve duping desperate people into giving them $5,000 to secure a nonexistent $50,000 loan. When the lovebirds are picked up by hotshot FBI Agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper, playing dumb quite well), they become embroiled in a series of stings in exchange for their own immunity. DiMaso is a man who wants to wield power he doesn't possess. He is only intimidating because his lack of foresight makes him volatile. He is three steps behind everyone else, and he realizes it.
The first thing you will notice about American Hustle, except for maybe how well-done the period details are, is the caliber of the acting. Bale and Adams rise above the rest, but the performances are strong all around. Jennifer Lawrence, as Rosenfeld's kooky younger wife, shows up here and there to throw a wrench into every plan. She holds her own, though I am still not sold on her playing older than she really is: Lawrence is 23, and she shows it. She is gifted at improvising, but against world-class acting from the likes of Bale and Cooper, her portrayal seems more like a pretty mask worn by Katniss Everdeen than a lived-in character courtesy of an Oscar-winner.
Jeremy Renner is superb as the target of DiMaso's operation, New Jersey mayor Carmine Polito. In Renner's hands, we see no ulterior motives lurking beneath the surface: Polito is a genuine guy who really wants to see his city take a turn for the better amidst the crime and violence of the 1970s. He is aware that he must deal with unsavory characters to get things done, but isn't interested in skimming off the top. In DiMaso's eyes, though, it's enough to be called corrupt.
This is certainly Russell's most entertaining film in years, although his penchant to let the actors improvise gets a bit out of hand. There are many instances where it becomes clear that the actors are off- script, and such transparent improve tends to pull the viewer out of the film. Still, American Hustle is hugely enjoyable, a very funny and often very tense story that crosses elements from GoodFellas and The Informant in the best imaginable ways.