Another great movie from Russell.

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2014)

American Hustle (2013) is the latest work from David O. Russell, the man who brought us Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and The Fighter (2010). Hustle is about a con man, Irving Rosenfeld, (Bale) and his partner in crime, Sydney Prosser (Adams). Together, Rosenfeld and Prosser get into the business of conning people, making a living telling lies, until they're entrapped by Richie DiMaso (Cooper). DiMaso enlists them to help him capture four other con-men, bigger fish, in exchange for their freedom. The movie comes in at 138 minutes but each minute is captivating, and the pacing feels neither rushed or staggered as DiMaso struggles to keep his operation from falling apart.
The thing about this movie that stands out above all else is the character types and the motivations behind them. While the plot is always moving, and each action spurns it forward, one can find themselves more focused on the characters and their relationships. Russell focuses on characters, much like he did in his previous works, and the characters are what draws the audience in. Rosenfeld is a conman, someone who has built his life around lies and deception, yet by the end of the film you find yourself rooting for his success. Bale has constructed a character that is likable, despite the fact that he should, by all intents and purposes, be antagonistic.
Amy Adams has never been a favourite of mine, but she really stood out as Sydney Prosser. She captivated the attention of the audience in her scenes and while her sex appeal may have been overstated, the emotion and the motivations behind her characterizations kept you guessing from start to finish. Sydney's true motivations, the true plan, were held so close to the chest that it almost felt as if Adams had conned along with DiMaso. If anyone deserves an Oscar nomination, of the ensemble, it's Adams.
Jennifer Lawrence, cast as Rosalyn Rosenfold, the eccentric wife of Irvine, was equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. She depicted the role of a wife left to her own devices, trapped in a marriage of convenience due to her inability to accept change, and her struggle to communicate with a man who was distant, yet ever present. Her acting was fantastic, much like it was in Silver Linings Playbook, and I would not be surprised if she got an Oscar nod for her performance. She stole the show in the scenes that she was in, most notably the fight scene with Bale. Amazing acting, and I look forward to seeing what roles she takes in the future, and where her career goes.
Cooper was very good at playing the high-strung, success hungry, DiMaso. Much like in Silver Linings, he played eccentric and over the top very well, and has proved that he has come a long way from his Hangover days. If Cooper were smart, he'd stay on the path he's on, because with the roles he's been taking, and the performances, it wouldn't be a stretch to surmise that he could be accepting his first Oscar within the next 5 years.
That being said, Renner truly stole the show for me. He had a smaller role, but was pivotal to the story and to the unfolding of the larger plot. You truly believed that Carmine was making the right choices, that he believed in a greater good, and that came off very strongly through his character. Renner may have only just blipped up on the radar, but I expect to see him sticking around for quite some time.
All in all, the movie was paced well, the acting was superb, and the plot moved continuously throughout. The draw of this movie, more-so than the plot, is the characters. Each one felt very developed, and very compelling, and it was that element of the film that made it interesting. Reviews for the movie seemed torn, and I almost decided against seeing it, but I am glad that I did. The performances from Bale, Adams, and Renner were fantastic, and made the movie a must-see.