American Hustle

Rating: 8/10 (25 October 2015)

In David O. Russell's American Hustle, Christian Bale plays a conman who works - and is in a relationship - with Amy Adams, although he's also married to Jennifer Lawrence's character. When they're caught by Bradley Cooper's FBI agent, a deal is made for their freedom if they'll cooperate and put a sting on the local mayor, played by Jeremy Renner. Set in 1978, American Hustle is brimming with style, confident performances and astute direction mixed with a terrific soundtrack that features Duke Ellington, Wings, Frank Sinatra, Elton John and Ella Fitzgerald, amongst others. It's well written and perceptively clever, although it's more akin to being a showcase for the broad performances of its stars than a clear narrative. A narrative that may have more to say about post-Watergate political corruption and underworld influence had it remained more focused on singular story-telling aspects. Instead, Russell doesn't allow the intricacies of the plot to easily settle, keeping the performances taught and the audience engaged in those performances in spite of any subtext that may be culled. And the performances are excellent on every level, although Bale does look quite similar to Tom Cruise's Les Grossman -- and there are broad comic strokes abound here. Especially in a character we first see gluing down a piece of turf-cum-hair onto his head before working on the most elaborate comb-over you'll ever see. But that's key to the narrative and a world in which the characters exist solely on what they outwardly project -- Amy Adams is particularly good here, with dual accents and a a sexual allure that has who she wants doing what she wants. Although Jennifer Lawrence's performance reaches moments of tour-de-force bringing her own sexuality met with a coy duplicity and a touch of naivety amidst the scheming. Cooper and Renner have more straightforward parts, but bring a strong and vibrant presence to key roles. Whilst the feeling for the period, complete with garish and revealing outfits, works a treat and adds its own facet of curiosity amidst flared trousers, gaudy jewellery and plunging necklines. The ultimate payoff may not have the sting one would hope for, but this is vibrant and knowing film-making that asks for repeated viewings and faulters only in making an apology for the kind of characters we enjoy spending time with.