'American Hustle' - one of the the best films to hit cinemas in years!

Rating: 9/10 (27 December 2013)

"Some of this actually happened."
From this first inter-title, David O. Russell's new crime comedy-drama American Hustle (2013) promised two and a half hours of the twisted, the practically anarchic, but most especially, the absolutely absurd - and in the best way possible. Despite its late arrival to the Oscar scene (along with Scorsese's Wolf of Wall Street) and its being overshadowed by Steve McQueen's long-awaited 12 Years a Slave, American Hustle proves worthy of every nomination and accolade to date and lives up to its enormous hype. It is one of the best films to hit cinemas in years.
American Hustle - based on the true story of the FBI ABSCAM operation - follows conman Irving Rosenfield (Christian Bale) and con-woman Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) after they are forced to work for wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). As they con their way through the story "to survive," the audience joins them, dragged into a world of power schemes that is as lethal as it is intoxicating.
If the subject matter doesn't scream Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990) (or even Mean Streets (1973), if you squint), the style most definitely does. American Hustle's narrative trajectory is almost reminiscent of Casino (1995) in its first person narrative, given from the perspectives of both Bale's Irving Rosenfeld and Adams' Sydney Prosser. Yet, it's no Scorsese in regards to cinematography - and definitely no Guillermo del Toro. From a first viewing, the camera placement and movement remains incredibly simplistic and unremarkable. The cinematography, therefore, simply acts as an enabler for the film's greatest aspects - namely the performances by the A-list cast, and its fantastic script and plot.
The screenplay is simply sensational, creating a remarkable dynamic between both comedy and drama that is so rarely accomplished with films of this nature. Dramatic moments - including a screaming match between Irving and and his unstable wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) - are immediately followed by hilarious quips and creative dialog that left me gasping for air. Everything about the script is interconnected fluidly and cleverly and moments expressed in the film's infancy reappear later on with greater prominence and importance, all working together to create a story that comes full circle and completely encapsulates its overall themes of reinvention and survival. The story is fantastic, the writing superb - and the plot completely driven by its characters.
Christian Bale, renowned for his dedication when it comes to a character's physicality, immediately astounds with a comb-over and beer belly in his interpretation of lead, Irving Rosenfeld. However, it's his rendition of Irving that truly startles. Bale cleverly crafts a man who, despite his conning nature, is honorable at heart and is uncomfortable with potentially destroying a good man with good intentions (Jeremy Renner's Carmine Polito). Bale could have gone over the top with Irving - he is, after all, a conman from the Bronx - but, instead, he opted for a more realistic, grounded character. It was a fantastic choice, and one that definitely adds to the story's growing tension and drama. This may perhaps be one of Bale's best films. Opposite Bale is Amy Adams, in arguably one of her best showings to date, as well. Her performance as cleverly deceptive Sydney Prosser (or Lady Edith Greensly, if you're on the wrong side of the desk) is punctuated by moments of severe sincerity and emotional turmoil. Adams' prowess as an actress is in top form, and she proves absolutely deserving of her nomination for Best Leading Actress at this year's Golden Globe awards.
In almost a throwback to another Russell film, Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper plays uncontrollable FBI agent Richie DiMaso (slightly familiar to Paul Solitano in regards to his wild desperation), who is determined to prove himself as a worthy player to not only his department, but his mother and especially himself. Though not Cooper's best performance to date, American Hustle definitely shows off his stuff and solidifies his position as a powerful, talented actor in Hollywood.
Jennifer Lawrence once again proves herself to be one of the most daring and talented young actresses in the business as Rosalyn Rosenfeld, Irving's unstable and uncontrollable wife. In a world of reinvention and masks, Rosenfeld is the only character who tries not to change ("I hate change. I think I'd die before I ever changed") and it shows through her erratic and sometimes violent behavior - perfectly executed by Lawrence. Simply put, after watching American Hustle, I threw my hands up in the air and exclaimed to a startled audience of moviegoers, "Just give her the Oscar now!"
Jeremy Renner, though the only actor in American Hustle to not rack up a nomination at the Golden Globes for his performance as good-guy Carmine Polito - gave a solid performance. I could not see any other actor giving Carmine the sincerity and good-guy-politician, go-getter attitude he deserved. Keep an eye out for Renner in the future; that Hurt Locker nomination was just the beginning of what will be an award-stacked career, and American Hustle is a perfect stepping stone towards that future.
If the acting - and pristine characterization - isn't any indication of what an incredible film American Hustle is, just take a look at the Golden Globe nods its received - Best Picture (Comedy or Musical), Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor (Christian Bale), Best Lead Actress (Amy Adams), Best Supporting Actor (Bradley Cooper) and Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Lawrence). And American Hustle proves incredibly deserving of every scrap of recognition that it's been getting.
If you haven't heard about - or seen - American Hustle, please get yourself out from underneath whatever rock you've been under for the last six or seven months and stomp on over to your local cinema immediately. Also, tune into the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 12, 2014, where it's sure to give 12 Years a Slave a run for its money!