American Struggle

Rating: 5/10 (9 January 2014)

Okay... let me be honest... this movie was not good. It wasn't bad though... it was just... OKAY! I really do not understand where the plaudits are coming from. I wish that I can explain the movie but I can't. It was quite confusing. My guess is that it was based on the 70's of two con artists that become enamored with an opulent lifestyle, parties, and money? I don't know... again, it was not good.
I wish that I can find something great about this movie but the only thing is I'm glad that I didn't purchase popcorn because of all of the money that I would have wasted. I really do want my money back! LOL but I digress... The Writing: The story line was all over the place. I feel as if the writer was trying to take on a "Martin Scorsese" route but failed miserably.
The acting: I would have to say that the best actors were Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper but that's not saying much. I honestly believe that if they were given a better script, they would have been dynamic. I wouldn't be surprised if Bradley scored a Best supporting actor Oscar nod because his role is "out there" but there really isn't much to choose from. Christian and Amy were okay but their roles were dull because of the writing. And Jennifer Lawrence... OMG talk about over acting. Some parts were good but some were just juvenile (i.e. the Microwave scene.) There's a lot of Oscar talk around her performance and that's okay.. but to win would be a travesty! She just won last year and the performance is NOT worthy of another one.
I thought that the movie would pick at some point and it never did. I take that back... it did once the credits started to roll. Overall, I am very disappointed in this movie because I was really looking forward to seeing this all year. I really do believe that the critics are too terrified to speak up and say how dull this movie was. I honestly think that because the Oscar season has some controversial films (12 years a slave: which is perfection, and Wolf of Wall street: great movie) they are looking for something that plays it safe and makes people happy. That is the only reason why this movie is getting good reviews and it doesn't deserve them. I would be more forgiving and less cruel if I could get my money back, but I can't. This movie should have been released straight to DVD and it's something that you watch when you are cleaning up your house and there's nothing else good on. 5/10