It's really impressive how O. Russell has became such an 'actor's director'!

Rating: 10/10 (27 December 2013)

'AMERICAN HUSTLE': Five Stars (Out of Five)
Writer/director David O. Russell's new comedy/crime drama film (set in the 1970s) about a con man, and his partner, who are forced to work with a crazy FBI agent as part of a sting operation. It stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence and Cooper recently starred in O. Russell's 2012 hit 'SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK' (which is my all time favorite movie) and Bale and Adams co-starred in his film before that 'THE FIGHTER'. Bale and Lawrence won Oscars for their parts (Cooper and Adams were nominated). Lawrence, Cooper and Bale are likely to be up for Academy Awards again this year (Lawrence is a frontrunner and a win would be back-to-back Oscars for her). The film is also a major Academy Awards contender itself (as is David O. Russell) and has received almost universally positive reviews. I love the film and think it deserves every bit of the hype and praise it's been getting!
Christian Bale put on 40 lbs to play the role of Irving Rosenfeld (based on real life conman Melvin Weinberg). Rosenfeld was an intelligent and successful con-artist in 1978 when he met Sydney Prosser (Adams), a stripper who was also very good at the art of 'hustling people'. The two teamed up and became lovers, despite the fact that Rosenfeld was married and had an adopted son named Danny (played by Danny and Sonny Corbo). Danny was the son of Irving's dimwitted wife Rosalyn (Lawrence). All went well for Irving and Sydney until they were caught in the act by an undercover FBI agent named Richard DiMaso (Cooper). DiMaso forced them to help him bust four bigger con-artists and Mayor Carmine Polito (Renner, who's character is based on Angelo Errichetti) got caught in their hustle as well. Adams' character Sydney Prosser is also based on Evelyn Knight, DiMaso is based on Anthony Amoroso, Jr. and Rosalyn is based on Cynthia Marie Weinberg.
Lawrence (my favorite actress) is a scene stealer in the movie (once again) and she lights up the screen every time she comes on it, especially the first time she appears, when she really takes the film up a notch! What's surprising is that the film continues to stay at the same energetic level even when Lawrence is off screen (which is a large part of the movie, given her part is a smaller supporting role). For the first 20 minutes or so I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy the film that much but it really picked up in pace (and entertainment value) and I think that's largely due to O. Russell's flawless direction. While the movie is not quite as classic as 'SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK' it is O. Russell's most impressive directing job to date (in a visual and stylistic way at least). The performances are all excellent as well, especially Lawrence and Cooper (who are once again the two craziest characters in the movie). Bale and Adams make great straight men (and women) though; Adams looks more beautiful and acts better than she ever has before and Bale really went all out gaining the weight he did to play this unattractive balding criminal. It's really impressive how O. Russell has became such an 'actor's director' (especially given the history he has with actors he's worked with in the past, like George Clooney and Lily Tomlin). His script is brilliant as well (based on a screenplay by Eric Warren Singer, which is in turn based on historical events involving the FBI ABSCAM operation of the 70s and early 80s). It's yet another amazing masterpiece from David O. Russell and one of the best films of the year!
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