Well 2014 is here its off to an absolute belter with American Hustle. Co written and directed by David O Russell (The Fighter) heres a movie that will have you gripped from the very beginning.
Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper take the lead roles here in a story which follows con man, Irving Rosenfeld (Bale) and his partner Sydney Prosser (Adams) and their “involuntary” co-operation with the FBI. What follows is a story that twists, turns and jumps back and forth ever so masterfully. When movies jump around on a timeline, the potential for them to get lost and confused is always high. But with a great script and some brilliant touches from David O. Russell, this is certainly not the case with American Hustle.
The opening few minutes will hook you in and the whole experience is incredibly fluid and by the time the credits roll, its also a very rewarding experience. The characters, while operating under multiple layers are full of likeability and you really invest into their stories. Christian Bale (almost unrecognisable at times) has certainly being shovelling an extra few burgers away, and his contrived and bloated look shows fantastic dedication to his craft and his performance, while subtle is really fantastic. At times, you expect him to explode but he seems to be in amazing control and at times somewhat restrained. There really is a very deep character on display here.
Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner put in solid performances, and while Cooper cruises through, its in the latter half that he really comes into his own. Granted the less said about the two characters hair styles the better. Jennifer Lawrence plays a blinder in American Hustle proving yet again that she is a super actress and, like the rest of her cast, she has a great range of depth to her character and utterly convinces every time she is on screen. The smouldering sexuality she exudes is simply phenomenal. The real standout performance here though, is Amy Adams, who puts in an absolute career best performance. Firey and sassy with a near impeccable British accent she is a joy to watch on screen. Overall, the casting is spot on, and while there is one cliché here, it still works. However, you may well find yourself groaning at the sight of a certain actor and his role.
American Hustle is not without its faults. There is a singing number in the second half that will have you scratching your head and it just removes you from the overall experience. And while things quickly get back on track, you will certainly be wondering WTF! While there is no denying the pacing and fluidity of the 2 hour 20 running time, at times it just lacks a little bit of zing. The performances are fantastic, but you get the feeling that in places things could have been turned up a little bit more. And while this criticism is only minor, its noticeable and the movie feels ever so slightly reserved.
American Hustle is an amazing start to 2014, with great performances and a fantastic story that just envelopes you from the get go. And while it falls just short of being a classic, its very cool and a must watch!
