Top Movie of 2013 Contender

Rating: 8/10 (10 February 2014)

A con man, Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), along with his seductive British partner, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey power brokers and mafia.
To best review this film, we need to talk about what the film is and what the film is not. Generally, it is a fictional retelling of the FBI's Operation Abscam, where they used a fake sheik to bribe politicians. However, the emphasis is on fictional, because a great many things have been changed -- most notably, Amy Adams' character is completely invented, along with the love triangle aspect. There is also little evidence of Mafia involvement in the actual operation.
So, the storytelling is quite good with a more than adequate script, but it is not by any means a realistic presentation of the facts. If such a movie exists, I would love to see it, but this is not that film.
What this film is: a strong showcase for some incredible actors. Adams is at the top of her game here, and easily earns herself the Oscar nomination if not the win (though it is a competitive category this year). Bale, who is always good, also gives a respectable performance, though maybe not his best. Jennifer Lawrence continues to expand her talents and it is no wonder she has quickly become a regular on the red carpet. Even Louis C.K., not generally known for his acting, is top notch here.
Bradley Cooper, who I slowly warming to, is the weak link. He plays his part well, but not "Oscar well", and I am more than a little surprised by his nomination. In my estimation, Adams could win if Bullock does not run away with the statuette, Bale has a shot, Lawrence may squeak by, but Cooper is unlikely. The Globes awarded Adams and Lawrence, which seems about right. If there was an award for "ensemble cast", they would be a shoo-in, but individually it is a tough call this year.
I have a hard time accepting this as a best director nomination for David O. Russell. He may be a great director, and some credit must be given for being the man in charge, but again, this is an actor's film. There is no inventive camera work or lighting or much in the way of technical achievement. With such an impressive cast, I suspect Russell's role was relatively easy. I do not see a best director win for Russell, especially with Alfonso Cuarón as his competition.
The film editing category is too difficult to call with my limited knowledge of the process. As for best costume design and best production design, I can see why there were nominations but I suspect a win is unlikely. Maybe for costumes (though it is up against some films that want it badly) but not for production.
On to the biggest nomination of all: best picture. Although I have not yet seen all the Oscar nominees, I feel comfortable in saying this not only deserved the nomination but could possibly win. Being up against "Gravity" and "12 Years a Slave", I suspect a win is unlikely, but it is probably the best film of 2013 I have seen so far. This is a dramatic improvement over "Silver Linings Playbook".
Moreover, I think a best picture award is fitting. Despite the plethora of nominations the film received, it will not win most of the acting categories and probably not the directing category. But the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and its final form transcends the individual performances and crew achievements.
For a great 1970s throwback with action, romance, double dealing, and some of the finest acting of the year, you cannot do better than "American Hustle".