Bale. Adams. Cooper. Lawrence.

Rating: 10/10 (17 January 2014)

The film could have been renamed "Bale. Adams. Cooper. Lawrence" and it would be a more accurate description of the plot. The only twist this film does wonderfully is that its plot is in fact, just characters. But, what extraordinary characters they are. Refreshingly stylish, hilarious... just plain entertaining.
The film opens in an almost ridiculous manner, with Bale's character (Irving) 'building' his hair... only to be hilariously 'deconstructed' minutes later by Cooper's character (Richie). A simple, yet ridiculous notion, yes. But a brilliant foreshadowing of almost the entire film's ridiculous, yet entertaining play.
This film is fun, its wild, and its sexy. The awkward characters make for fantastic interactions which carry the film like a long conversation. It is an enjoyable watch, a magnificent depiction of how films can be a great ride without much of a story, if any. An excellent example of how actors can totally encapsulate entertainment.
For those of you expecting a grandiose enveloping of the mafia, I would suggest The Godfather (my #2 film of all time) for a more explicit, and 100x better film in that genre... however this film has no such intention and deserves respect for what it was trying to do... give audiences a dramatically entertaining film with hilarious characters showcasing some of the best actors of this generation.