Viewed in
2013
Formats
Movie theater.
Premise
Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence star in a story of a 1970's con man forced to help the FBI take down corrupt politicians.
Loved
Acting, 1970's hair, Adams' cleavage, Bale's gut, Louis C.K.'s subplot.
Liked
Visual flair, watching sleazeballs out-conning each other, Adams-versus-Lawrence scene.
Disliked
Confusing plot, underwhelming ending, Cooper's casting.
Thoughts
Man, was this a lot of fun.
There was a great panache that celebrated the ridiculousness of the 1970's glamour, from music to outfits, to that gorgeous, gorgeous hair. Seriously, there needed to be an award for best movie hair. Every character was fascinating to look at. Bale, known for taking on physically punishing roles, beat his sex appeal to a pulp with a combover and gigantic gut. But the scene-stealer was Adams' where-did-that-come-from-?! cleavage.
With all this cinematic candy, it was not surprise that the film was crammed with indulgent shots, which occasionally slowed the momentum, like the disco scene.
Oh yeah, the acting was very good too. It was a joy to sit back and watch a bunch of sleazebags out-conning each other. Nothing will ever match Robert DeNiro-Al Pacino showdown from Heat, but the Amy Adams-Jennifer Lawrence dance club encounter came pretty darn close. Louis C.K.'s subplot about his fishing story was inspired irreverence. Lastly, the cameo was obvious but brilliant at the same time.
I would agree that director David O. Russell needed to add more substance to the overflowing style. While the con games were fun, I sometimes couldn't tell who had the upper hand in every situation. By the end, I was confused enough to find the climax unexciting.
Another issue was Cooper as the wild FBI agent. When he was a douchebag or idiot, Cooper knocked it out of the park hilariously, but I didn't buy into his serious/smart side. So half of the time, he seemed oddly miscast.
American Hustle's visual flair was undeniably great, and battle of the wits was tantalizing in the moment. The problem was after the credits rolled, I wondered if any of the characters actually had a brain. Considering its overrated accolades, keep your expectations lower so you won't feel scammed.
