AMERICAN HUSTLE
Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper
Directed by David O. Russell
Whereas most con job movies centre on a single mastermind whos on top of everything, David O. Russells fictionalized account of the FBIs infamous Abscam sting hinges on a handful of misfits who are struggling just to keep it together. Despite the disco era wardrobes, these characters are cut from the same cloth as the endearing head cases found in Russells recent delirious confections like The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook.
American Hustles brilliant opening sequence traces the meticulous construction of the elaborate comb-over that allows Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), a low-rung shyster, to convincingly feign a full head of hair. In fact, everyone involved here is chasing the America dream of reinventing themselves, whether its Irvings ex-stripper girlfriend Sydney (Amy Adams) with her fake accent or Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), the FBI agent whose casual swagger scarcely conceals that hes more tightly wound than his perm rods.
Given the instability of everyone involved (including the scene-stealing Jennifer Lawrence, as Irvings looney tunes wife), theres rarely the sense that anyone is actually running the operation that Richie ropes Irving and Sydney into. Instead, it appears to be on a runaway course, careening wildly as it assumes an exhilarating velocity.
In turn, Russells camera swoops about wildly, emulating vintage Scorsese and heightening the sensation that the film is as unhinged as the lunatics populating it.
And right around the point the Bee Gees plaintively croon How can a loser ever win?, Russell shows us precisely how characters with limited options but lofty ambitions claw their way to victory. If only every Hollywood film employed such panache when making off with our hard-earned money.
