With an opening line that says “Some of this actually happened”, David
O. Russell’s Oscar Nominated crime-comedy drama AMERICAN HUSTLE turns out to be
one of the most delightful con films I have seen. Credit goes to the
categorically best ensemble star-cast that serves you with the most delicious
performances you have ever tasted. This is one of those films that have an
interesting brigade of actors playing juicy, buoyant and dynamic characters you
take home for a very very long time in your heart.
When Richard DiMaso- an FBI agent [played by Bradley Cooper] busted the illegit
exercises of 2 con-artistes Irving Rosenfeld
[Christian Bale] and Sydney Prosser [Amy Adams] in cheating people with
fake impersonation of a loan approval agency, he didn’t have the slightest
notion in his weirdest dream that his assessment to go a step further &
entail these two in his operation to capture some more big shots on camera
could be a heart-piercing roller-coaster ride of his lifetime.
Christian Bale again surprises you with his extensive physical
transformation as a paunchy, bald & aging Irving Rosenfeld swaying and swinging between his new
partner-in-crime Sydney and his wife-in-broken marriage Rosalyn [played by
Jennifer Lawrence]. He is a smartass but don’t expect him to be other than just
a rotten husband when he is with his big-mouthed unreasonable wife. Watch him
in the opening scene where he is busy dressing his hair-streaks to conceal the
bald surface. He’s terrific.
Amy Adams plays the other con-artist in love with Irving but after
revelation that he is a married guy, wants to move out in desperation only to
find a possible match in Richie- the FBI guy. She shows extreme confidence in
her character with a ‘go-get it’ attitude with a flair of jealousy &
resentment in parts.
Bradley Cooper’s enthusiastic, animated & restless Richie provides
good laugh especially in an on-going gag with his superior agent where the
later tells him a story about his father and brother…and the fidgety Cooper
tries his hands every time to guess the end & find the moral behind it but
ends up maddening him even more.
Jennifer Lawrence charms the screen as thousands of neon gets lit in one
spark. Though she played a typical ‘never in control’ housewife with her ‘god
only knows’ analysis of situations, she oozes you with her frivolous facetious
attitude. Watch her in the side-splitting ‘microwave’ scene. Jeremy Runner
Plays a sober, well-intended mayor who gets trapped while striving to do better
for their people. Robert De Nero’s cameo as the mob-head is a satisfying
surprise.
Getting these many dominant faces in one frame or film is not the only
highlight of David O Russell’s AMERICAN HUSTLE. The writing with witty lines,
remarkable characters, the performances, set & production design with eyes
of detailing, impressive direction, not-so-overdramatic twists in the tale and last
but not the least, the emotional inconsistency in every character, as Irving
says in the film, “not everyone is black or white but grey”, are what make this
story of changing sides in the game of love & hustling people set in
corrupt political scenario not just any other common con film but a delicious
Comic-Con movie you’ll enjoy thoroughly! [4/5]
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