Movie Review: American Hustle (2013)
Written by Anthony Sargon
David O. Russel is easily one of the best American filmmakers working today. Not only is he extremely consistent, but he always manages to get incredible performances out of his actors. “American Hustle” continues O. Russel’s streak of excellent movies, and while it may not be as memorable as some of the year’s other high-profile releases, it’s certainly one of the most entertaining and best acted films of 2013.
When con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are forced to work alongside FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) in order to entrap some New Jersey politicians, including Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), the trio is thrust in a web of lies that not only pits them against one another, but against some of Jersey’s most dangerous mobsters.
“American Hustle” mainly succeeds because of its amazing performances; David O. Russel brings together an all-star cast from some of his most acclaimed films, most notably “The Fighter” and “Silver Linings Playbook”, and the results are undoubtedly brilliant. Christian Bale, who in my opinion has never given a bad performance, delivers another powerhouse (and hilarious) performance as the balding and overweight Irving Rosenfeld. The acting is excellent across the board: Bradley Cooper is great as FBI agent DiMaso, and Amy Adams kills it as Irving’s sexy partner Sydney. I’m also happy to say that Jeremy Renner delivers what is arguably his most enjoyable performance to date as the affable and wide-eyed Mayor Polito. Jennifer Lawrence, who walked away with last year’s Oscar for best actress in a leading role thanks to O. Russel’s “Silver Linings Playbook”, is a pleasure to behold as Irving’s crazy, drunk wife, and she steals every scene she’s in. Seriously, the acting is top-notch, especially when all primary cast members are on screen together, bouncing off each other’s energy.
Other than that, I was a bit surprised by how straight-forward the movie ended up being. Everything it does, it does well, but I was never really taken by surprise by anything. Character motivations are pretty clear from the outset, and while some may behave in a slightly unexpected manner at times, it doesn’t happen often enough to keep you guessing. Still, the brilliant dialogue keeps the proceedings highly interesting, and the movie ends up being one of the year’s funniest, even though it’s not technically a comedy. That’s the thing about “American Hustle”; I don’t exactly know how to categorize it. It has elements of a comedy, heist flick, con flick, and period drama, but it doesn’t fully embrace either genre; it’s its own thing entirely. Russel has done something highly unusual, and it’s held together by amazing performances that sell the experience through and through, even when some scenarios seem a tad unbelievable.
The Verdict:
“American Hustle” is one of the year’s funniest and best acted films. It boasts incredible performances by an all-star ensemble cast, and further cements David O. Russel as one of the best directors in the business. Catch it in theaters; you’ll be happy you did.
Numerical Score: 9/10
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