I mostly loved it. Outstanding scriptwriting in the plot as much as the dialog. Unlike what I was expecting, it doesn't let the story and characters get enveloped by the 70s style - just the opposite really.

Amy Adams best performance ever and close to it for Bale. He had the reassuring warmth that's just perfect for the con man role, I wanted to be around him more than the others. Adams was just amazing with the dual side of her British cover and insecure/internally destroyed real self.

I thought JLaw was worse than Bale/Adams/Cooper, not as much humanity behind her character, more of a performance. She was good but for a role teed up for a home run, it wasn't. And as mentioned the mafia spilled beans sequence felt as if put in to increase her screentime. Also in the last act of the film the lack of Adams hurts it. Adams kills JLaw in this film IMO.

Also I don't know if a De Niro character has been scarier, I had shivers up my back from that guy. Putting on the shades and making him less De Niro-y allowed him to be an actual scary mobster again.

It's not perfect but it's really good. Better than most BP winners 2000+.

Great review. Agreed.

random, but that shot of them all dancing didn't make the movie right? It's used so much in the advertising but I'm pretty sure it's not in the movie.

even though I wasn't in love with the movie I kinda want to see it again.

100% agreed.

It wasn't just Amy Adams best performance, it was the best performance period, that I have seen in years.

Absolutely brilliant.

American Hustle

Straight-up classic. Such an engrossing, clever, and well acted film. Christian Bale is out of this world as an actor. He lays the groundwork here, he's the straight con man to allow the others to chew a bit of scenery, but it's such a good geezer of a performance, with such resolve and coolness. I've never seen Amy Adams perform so well. Fantastic. If she doesn't win any awards, there's been an injustice. And how hot was she?? Wow. God damn! She's the stand out performance for me. Well, there are four stand outs actually. The third one is Bradley Cooper. When he's allowed to just run with it, he excels. Such a fine performer. Then there's Jennifer Lawrence, who I think easily proved, in a few short scenes, why she's such a precious up and coming actress. Fine, fine work. These four are what made this film an instant masterpiece. David O. Russell must be proud of himself.

The twist ending was sensational. I didn't see it coming. The running joke of the ice fishing from the FBI Supervisor was actually hilarious. I loved that. Cooper's impersonation of the FBI Supervisor sitting there all grumpy was, again, hilarious (and shows very much his strengths as an actor). Lawrence's scenes with Bale in the kitchen (like when the microwave blew up) were so watchable. While I dislike people like her character, you've got to give it to her, she played a blinder. And hot too. I also think this film showed off the talents of Jeremy Renner who most of the time is a wooden, untalented, wannabe thespian, but in this he showed that perhaps he has more range if given the right role and with the right director. I actually felt sorry for his character. Rarely does a film make me feel so many things as American Hustle did. David O. Russell's a damn magician.

Oh, and Robert De Niro. I was so shocked to see him as Tollegio. That was a fantastic scene that I actually felt nervous watching. When he started speaking arabic, I thought "shit, they're fucked". It was so great.

A

Agreed on all counts.

Oh, and I didn't even mention the music. I always say the music makes a good film great, and damn it was fantastic here. The 70s tunes were picked well, especially "10538 Overture" by Electric Light Orchestra and "Live and Let Die" by Wings. The scene in the nightclub just worked fantastically well (Donna Summer's awesome beats; "I Feel Love"). It was as if I rewinded 20 years and was watching Goodfellas or Casino. The music was running almost entirely throughout the movie, which made it all keep pace very well and the editing in this film must have been difficult, but it was pulled off to perfection.

There should be an Oscar for best overall soundtrack (not just original song and scores), because this would win it. It transported me back to a time that I don't even know of (because I wasn't created yet), and that is an accomplishment.

Irving falls for people rather quickly. Just look at how quickly he fell for Sydney. Plus, he's generally not a bad bloke, so setting up Mayor Carmine when all Carmine is trying to do is help people, is on his conscience. So I agree with Bradley; I bought it.

Great review Algren. I agree 100%.

Performances are just perfect and Adams is brilliant and super sexy. The 70s are perfectly captured in all their glory and the music is spot on.

DeNiro shocked me as I was trying to pick out who the actor was as they zoomed in towards him. Most menacing character he's played in a long time.

And yes - reminds me of two of my favourite films - Goodfellas and Casino - cant go wrong there.

Amy Adams and JLaw stole this film.

A

“American Hustle” is a largely fictionalized account of the Abscam operation of the late 70's and early 80's in which the FBI forced a convicted con artist to assist in the take down of corrupt politicians. Christian Bale stars as said con artist, Irving Rosenfeld, who in real life was Melvin Weinberg but names have been changed for the film. The film is very liberal in its recreation of these events, but in hilariously opening the film with “Some of this actually happened” it's made clear upfront you aren't getting a history lesson.

“American Hustle” is one of the most entertaining films of the year. It operates so smoothly, like a well-oiled machine. Which is also exactly how the cast works together. Everyone here is terrific. Christian Bale gives a layered performance, making his sleazy, lying character oddly likeable. Amy Adams is equally great in a surprisingly complex role as Irving's partner-in-crime. She's sly and sexy, but offers up a sympathetic vulnerability in some scenes. She just moves so effortlessly through the film and is a real joy to watch. Bradley Cooper more than holds his own as the FBI agent running the operation. Cooper has really become a great actor over the years and he's a lot of fun here. And pulling off perhaps the biggest con of all, Jennifer Lawrence manages to steal every scene she's in as Irving's wife. She's a real spitfire and responsible for the majority of the film's big laughs. Though at the same time, beneath the conniving craziness, there's something human about her that she reveals in brief, tiny moments. Of the main players there really isn't a weak link in the cast. Director David O. Russell, Academy Award nominated director of The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, has a real knack for getting great performances from his casts. “Hustle” is no exception and features some of the best ensemble work of the year.

I loved the 70's aesthetic here. The production design felt entirely authentic and like a love letter to the 70's. From the costumes and hair to the use of filters that make it feel like this actually could have been made in this era. It's all accompanied by a great soundtrack that succeeds in transporting you to this time period.

This is such a sexy, funny, compulsively watchable film with a great attention to detail. I will admit to finding the intricately layered story difficult to follow at times, but for the most part it all made sense in the end and was even more easy to understand on second viewing. There are so many details that it might take more than one viewing to notice. I could see taking something new away from this film every time I watch it. I wouldn't spend too much time over-thinking it on your first viewing. Just sit back and enjoy the delicious dialogue and performances.

9/10 (A-)

I read this a few days ago and I've been playing it over in my mind. I'm not sure this is accurate. I mean, how many Scorsese movies are actually very good to fantastic? Goodfellas, The Color of Money, Casino, Cape Fear and The Departed. Five.

Is it just because Scorsese has had a longer career or something? I know that reasoning usually affects people's opinion. David O. Russell has made 4 great movies; Three Kings, The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Just one behind Scorsese. And is everyone of the opinion that Scorsese is talented? He doesn't particularly do anything impressive with his films, and they're all largely the same whereas O. Russell picks different genres, themes and stories. While I enjoy the ones I enjoy, the latest Scorsese doesn't fill me excitement. But the latest O. Russell certainly will.

Scorsese, while he has a long career, really hasn't made that many films. But still considerably more than O. Russell, and for O. Russell to have 4 great movies to Scorsese's 5 is pretty impressive.

shut the fuck up

Fuck off.

Without pitting them against each other Thunderdome style (I am a fan of Russell, particularly I Heart Huckabees and The Fighter), it is definitely striking how much this film plays as an homage to/recreation of '90s Scorsese. It plays as if Russell spent every second of downtime watching Goodfellas and Casino in his hotel room and scribbling copious amounts of notes.

American Hustle is more about the hustle, though. Goodfellas is about the violence. Structurely they're similar, sure, but one is a serious drama about deadly gangsters while the other is much more lighthearted about theft.

Either way, recreating 90s Scorsese is not a bad thing.

They're both awesome. Casino probably has the slight edge because it's been with me for longer.

A great movie that falls short from being excellent. The performances are superb, top to bottom. David O. Russell continues to prove he is an accomplished filmmaker. It's fun, it's fast, it's precise. And maybe that's where it falls short. It's too precise. It just lacks something that could push it to that next level for me. And it kind of pains me to say it because I was really hyped for it.

Maybe repeat viewings will be kind to it. And I'm by no means saying it's lackluster, but I'd be lying if I didn't voice just a tiny bit of disappointment in it.

***

I'm not. The Bale/Adams Goodfellas montage at the beginning is the only part I didn't like. The rest of the movie is fantastic. Better than Silver Linings Playbook, but not quite The Fighter.

This was my most anticipated movie for a while, after loving Russell's The Fighter and especially SLP. But it's just lacking... something. Maybe it tried too hard.

For the record, I think JLaw deserves another Oscar. But I'll give the edge to 12AS for Picture and Director.

I didn't say it was for AH!

Magnus you're in the every film is good but not great club.

He's got you there.

Maybe you tried too hard. Perhaps you hyped it up too much that it cold never reach your satisfaction level.

-Said every woman Mr. X has ever been with