A Stylish Screwball Crime Comedy

Rating: 8/10 (30 December 2013)

"American Hustle" is all about deception. Every character is hiding something from every other character, manipulating their relationships to get what they want. On top of this, there seems to be trickery of the film itself on the audience. Is this a crime/heist film? Yesbut only just. Above the hustle and bustle of the plot is a wonderful array of bumbling characters and neurotic screwball-esque dialogue that is sorely missing in our modern day Cineplex's. In the end, we get a crime-comedy-drama that is full of laughsintense, unsettling laughs. Nostalgia for the 1970s is extremely thick here, not just in the costuming and set pieces, but in the filmmaking itself. Yes, the style and music are perfect in putting us within the era, but even the camera work, editing, and jazzy directing scream of "Mean Streets" era-Scorsese. Russell struggles at times with some of the potential convolutedness of the lies, but this is minor. Lucky for us, Russell can pair this madcap style with some great touches of reality, grounding us back in the mundane as we are facing the insane. However, Russell is barely interested in the plot or even the real life Abscam scandal. He is interested in quick and brilliantly repetitive dialogue. He is interested in tone and style. He is interested in giving his actors surprising and authentic characters, and then letting them playand play they do. Everyone brings their A-game, especially Cooper, Bale and Lawrence who are truly outstanding, hilarious, and convincing. This is must-see awards season viewingbut it will also just be an entertaining and engaging night at the movies.