Runs a little long but is stylish, well acted and generally engaging, but you need to leave the awards hyping at the door

Rating: Null/10 (9 January 2014)

It is that time of year again, the time of year where films are talked up for their awards potential, where good films are hyped as the greatest films ever and so on – so it is a time to be wary of publicity. This is the case to a certain extent with American Hustle because it is a film whose marketing doesn't quite make it clear what it is, but does make it clear that it is probably the most brilliant thing you'll ever see. Of course it doesn't live up to this hype and I can understand why many viewers going in with these words in their brains came out disappointed, which is why it is important to try to leave this in the lobby and see the film for what it is.
This also helps because from the trailers it isn't clear what the film is; whether it is a slick caper movie, a comedy or a true-story drama or thriller. Part of the reason I think they struggled to really pigeonhole it when selling it was that it does rather sit across all of these genres and surprisingly it does so pretty effectively. The story is based on truth and this is something that the film makes pretty clear from the very start with the "some of this happened" legend. The film is also effective as a comedy since the characters and rather out of control situations are often amusing and sometimes very funny. However more than this, the film is a drama because although you laugh, you are not laughing at the characters because they never lose the tragic cores that so many of them have. Although the film does not quite have the heart that could have added more, this aspect does draw you into the characters and it supports the drama as it unfolds. The story does build well even if it is a solid pace rather than a thriller; ironically the weaker moments of the narrative come towards the end and it maybe doesn't have the climax one would have hoped for.
The strength of the film is the delivery. Much is said of the cast and they are all good because they do not let the period costumes, hair and narrative excesses turn them into caricatures. Instead all of them really seem to "get" the comic-tragic mix and deliver on this very well. Bale does it the best and is really good in a subdued role, giving his best turns opposite Renner, who himself is very good in a smaller role. I've no great love for Cooper but he is also good here. The two female roles are both very strong too, with Adams impressing and my opinion of Lawrence only increasing. Russell's direction and indeed the whole style of the film is very much owing a debt to others – in particular Scorsese and Goodfellas. Although these influences are very clear, I didn't really ever feel it was a copy because the film made it work for itself. The costumes, hair, sets and all aspects of the production come together really well to create a very effective sense of time and place.
The hype has not helped this film – well, maybe it helps for votes in awards but not for the viewer. It isn't as flawless as some would suggest, but it is still a well done film that walks a fine line and delivers a mostly engaging story. The mix of comedy with the tragic characters is very well done across the board, adding some grit into the film and preventing it from being just slick superficiality or comedic caricatures with big hair. Leave the Oscar hype at the door and you'll find this an enjoyable film for many reasons.