Superb performances by Bale and Adams

Rating: 10/10 (19 January 2014)

American Hustle Review By Kenneth Billings Valley Thunder Production
From the moment I saw the trailer for American Hustle, it leaped to the top of my "must see" list. Boasting the most impressive ensemble cast of any film this year, this story of a clever anti-hero and his literal partner in crime promised the potential to be a contender for either the top prize either the Oscars or the Razzies, leaving no room for middle ground. As the honors continue to stack up for "Hustle" during awards season, it is obvious that the talents of David O. Russell, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and Jeremy Renner more than delivered. Though billed as a "comedy", "Hustle" does not fit so neatly in this genre and should only cautiously be considered alongside 2013's other laughter-seeking fare. While "Hustle" has some definite "laugh out loud" moments and you will without question find yourself smiling as you leave the theater, Russell's story is much deeper than the typical jokes, gags, and one-liners relied upon by films in this category. In "Hustle" you will find yourself rooting for the criminal cheating on his wife while empathizing with him for his choice, longing for the good-guys comeuppance, heartbroken and hopeful for the co-conspirator/mistress, and being equally appalled, sympathetic and happy for the selfish, self-indulgent wife. Lastly, you will find yourself pondering (and ultimately discovering the answer to) the great life question posed by Russell – "What the hell is the relevance and importance of a damn bottle of fingernail polish?" As equally impressive as Russell's carefully crafted story, and possibly more so, are the performances delivered each and every member of the cast. When a film boasts an ensemble such as this, it is often a victim of its own provenance falling woefully short of its potential. In "Hustle" however, the obvious chemistry between the actors, coupled with the masterful individual performances and Russell's storytelling set a new high-water-mark. Though much of the press surrounding individual performances in "Hustle" has centered on Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, I find myself scratching my head at the fact that Christian Bales performance is being so overshadowed and that he is only considered an outside contender for the Best Actor Oscar. Perhaps it is because I am partial to character actors, but to me it is the artists who truly transform themselves into the character they create who are the elite artists and master craftsmen of the screen – performers like Daniel Day Lewis, Jauqin Phoenix, and Johnny Depp. These are performers who go beyond playing a role to becoming the person they portray. Christian Bale has become one such performer. Bale impressed me immensely with his portrayal of Dicky Eglund in "The Fighter" but in "Hustle" he solidified my respect and admiration for his craftsmanship. In portraying Irving Rosenfeld, Bale, in my opinion, reached a level few actors attain. In his performance, Bale became "lost" in his character in a way that had nothing to do with costuming, comb-overs, or prosthetics. Staring at the screen, I saw not an actor portraying a character, but an individual coming to life on screen so believably he could have stepped onto a street in 1979 New York City and no one would have raised a brow. From his dialect, cadence, mannerisms, and gestures to his accent and appearance, Bale disappears into Irving Rosenfeld leaving us with a performance hard to match by anyone. Like Bale, Amy Adams continues to deliver performances that seemingly overshadow each one before Adams turn as Sydney is no exception. In portraying the con-artist/co-conspirator/mistress of Rosenfeld, the most naturally beautiful woman in Hollywood turns in another knockout performance giving us a mere glimpse at the emotional range she brings. I have long admired Adams talent as an actress. I believe that her star will only continue to rise and ultimately she will be considered one of the greats. However, when it was announced earlier this year that she would be taking up the role of hell-raising, hard-partying rock pioneer Janis Joplin I found myself scratching my head. Adams is a beautiful, refined woman in every sense.Janis Joplin – not so much. How the hell was that ever going to work? True, Charlize Theron's transformed from blonde vixen to the rough around the edges and everywhere in between serial killer Eileen Wornoss, but like Bale she disappeared thoroughly into the character. How on earth, would the astoundingly beautiful Adams be able to pull off a transformation into the more than "plain Jane" Joplin? Watching "Hustle" however, I soon had my answer. As I watched Adams portrayal of "Sydney" at her most emotional and vulnerable stage – crying, with puffy red eyes, un-coiffed hair, etc – I got it. Though much has been made of Lawrence's performances of late, I'll confess – I have never been a big fan. Not that she isn't a talented actress, I just haven't seen examples of her ability to the extent to find her living up to the hype. In "Hustle" however she earned a great deal of respect from me as she displayed an emotional range I had not yet seen, and her role in the film afforded her the opportunity to more fully explore a more complex character than those she has portrayed in the past. Ultimately, "American Hustle" promised a big bang for the buck and delivered on every count. Russell's carefully crafted story combined with stellar performances by the film's stars created a movie not to be missed. Though it may miss out on the Oscar's biggest prize because of the Academy's trend to avoid financially successful films, "Hustle" should be by no means avoided anyone who considered themselves either a devoted or casual movie fan.