Movie Review: American Hustle

Director: David O Russell.

Cast: Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Robert De Niro.

Run Time: 2hr and 9min.

Genre: Drama.

Rating: 6/10.

American Hustle has created quite the buzz in Hollywood, a fact that can be attributed to the A-list cast that the film project has attracted, and also to the films storyline which is loosely based on the events surrounding the FBI’s Abscam sting in the late 1970s.

In the film Christian Bale (Batman star) plays the lead role as Irving Rosenfeld, an overweight, balding con man who cons people for a living together with his girlfriend Sydney (Amy Adams).

However, things take an interesting twist when they get caught by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) and are given the option to help with an operation sting that plans to take down mobsters and corrupt politicians, or to go to jail.

 While Sydney wants to flee the country, Irving is reluctant to leave his wife Rosalyn played by Jennifer Lawrence, and her son. So the twosome agree to take part in an elaborate scam intended to entrap mobsters and dirty politicians, but Irving becomes increasingly uncomfortable as he befriends intended target Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) and quickly realises that he is a good man trying to help his community.

While Irving struggles with whether to bring down Mayor Polito, his unpredictable wife Rosalyn has her own plan set in motion that could bring both their worlds crashing down.

Thumbs Up

The film is an entertaining drama with a brilliant cast. It well directed and the pacing is well done; the film is gripping throughout, maintaining a constant level of tension, and humour at the most unexpected of times. However, the films greatest asset is its production design work, nothing is left to chance, the attention to detail in everything from the hairstyles, to the costumes, to the set, is impressive.

Thumbs Down

The film drags on for too long, plus the twist at the end is a bit disappointing, it fails to pack a punch. Also although both Bale and Adams give great performances as the con man and the femme fatale, they both come out very cliché, they seem to be playing character types that we have seen on screen before. Further the plot is not very intelligent.

Verdict

 It is an okay movie.