Energetic crime-drama with top level acting

Rating: 8/10 (25 September 2017)

An FBI agent recruits a pair of con artists in a scheme designed to ensnare some corrupt politicians and gangsters.
This 1970's set, New Jersey based crime-drama is a definite success from director David O. Russell. His direction here is unmistakably influenced by Martin Scorsese in full flow and this is of course a very good thing. There is a real energy and inertia to a film with, on the face of it, not an awful lot of action. It succeeds on account of Russell's strong direction combined with a set of superior performances from a great ensemble cast. In fact, it's probably the acting more than anything which powers this one over the line. Christian Bale once again shows his high calibre and totally loses himself in his character, once again going the extra mile physically by putting on a lot of weight to the point of obesity to play a potbellied, balding con-man. It's a great charismatic performance and yet another bit of top level work from Bale. Bradley Cooper is also impressive as the slightly out-of-control FBI agent who also happens to sport a perm. Amy Adams is wonderful as a con woman who feigns a delicious English accent in her role-within-a-role as an upper class British aristocrat who uses her charms to ensnare unwary victims. She also sports an outrageous wardrobe of sexy 70's clobber, which doesn't do any harm. Then there is Jennifer Lawrence in a scene stealing performance as Bale's loose cannon wife who has a knack for manipulating the con man. Those four all put in sterling work and are a joy to watch, and that is to say nothing of Jeremy Renner as the Mayor, a character who would be a one-dimensional villain in most other films but here is probably more sympathetic than the 'heroes'! While we also have an unbilled turn from Robert De Niro as a nasty crime boss – it's probably the kind of thing he could do in his sleep but he is still impressively threatening nevertheless. Additionally, the 70's period detail in which the drama plays out against is another major plus point with great décor, hairstyles and costumes on display throughout.
The story is told partially in flashback which always adds a nice extra dynamic and here is no different. While I would certainly say that the screenplay is very good, I would also be inclined to suggest that the story just falls short of greatness. The plot trajectory has a few twists and turns but doesn't necessarily amount to as much as it promises. Still, this is a relatively minor complaint as the story is still more than decent. The tone is often on humour with some of the comedy being very funny. But it's a good mix of the comic with the dramatic, with the story having enough overall seriousness for the drama to still resonate when necessary. Overall, this is a very entertaining and well delivered movie with its superb acting performances defining it most.