AMERICAN HUSTLE

reviewed by Patrick Gibbs

GRADE: A
Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence
Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Directed by David O. Russell

Director David O. Russell reached a personal best with Silver Linings Playbook, a joyous, mesmerizing film that was my pick for the best film of 2012, and won its leading lady, Jennifer Lawrence, an Oscar for Best Actress. Even with his impressive track record dating all the way back to the underrated Three Kings, following up such a success is quite a task. American Hustle does not quite live up to it's predecessor, but it's a terrific film in its own right.

The movie begins with the caption "some of this actually happened," which sets the tone nicely for this farcical telling of the real life story of the ABSCAM case of the late '70's. In 1978,  Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are a couple of con artists in love. Sydney has improved Rosenfeld's scams, posing as English aristocrat "Lady Edith Greensley". They are a well-matched couple, but Irving is hesitant to leave his stepson Danny with his wife Rosalyn (Academy Award Winner Jennifer Lawrence), who will not divorce him.

FBI agent Richard "Richie" DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) catches Irving and Sydney in a loan scam but offers to release them if Irving can line up four additional arrests. Sydney opposes the agreement. Richie believes Sydney is English but has proof that her claim of aristocracy is fraudulent. Sydney tells Irving she will manipulate Richie, distancing herself from Irving.

Irving has a friend pretend to be a wealthy Arab Sheik looking for potential investments in America. An associate of Irving's suggests that the Sheikh do business with Mayor Carmine Polito of Camden, New Jersey. The popular mayor (played by two time Oscar Nominee Jeremy Renner) is campaigning to revitalize gambling in Atlantic City but has struggled to raise the necessary funds. Richie devises a plan to entrap Carmine despite the objections of his boss, and of Irving. Sydney helps Richie manipulate an FBI secretary into making an unauthorized wire transfer of $2,000,000. When Stoddard's boss, Anthony Amado, hears of the operation, he praises Richie's initiative, pressuring Stoddard to continue the operation.


Richie's over-eagerness to catch Carmine causes the mayor to leave their meeting. Irving convinces Carmine that the Sheikh is legitimate, expressing his dislike toward Richie, and the two become friends. Meanwhile, the meddlesome Rosalyn gets involved, and accompanies Richie to a party where she meets a mobster and begins an affair.

The story is a bit convoluted and even the characters have trouble keeping up with everything that is going on, but that's really the point. There are so many people working so many angles that eventually everything is destined to come crashing down, and all anyone can do is enjoy the ride.

The script by Russell and Eric Warren Singer is wickedly clever, full of sensational dialogue that recalls the Coens at their best, and the style of the film is vintage Scorsese. Russell juggles multiple characters without every letting of them feel short changed, and whatever his reputation for getting along with people may be, his ability to get unforgettable performances is second to none. Christian Bale is clearly having a lot of fun shedding his Batman image (and his hair), and shows that his intensity can serve comedy as well as it does drama. Amy Adams is sexy, strong, and sad as the girl who reluctantly accepts being used and does it right back. There is is an understated sense of despair to her performance that is heartbreaking. Bradley Cooper gets some of the films biggest laughs as the conniving poser, Richie, and Jennifer Lawrence is laugh out loud hysterical as the shrill New York housewife blessed with an abundance of personality that almost makes up for her absence of brains. It was partially due to scheduling conflicts but is also a credit to Russell's unconventional vision that he casts 40 year old Adams as the sultry siren and 23 year old it girl Lawrence as the overlooked housewife, and both execute their roles with such grace that you wouldn't have it any other way. If there is a major hurdle the movie faces it is the fact that there is no one in this story to root for: they are all awful people. And yet somehow, you can't help but care about them on some level. And that is the genius of David O. Russell.

American Hustle is rated R for profanity, sex, violence, drugs, drinking and smoking.