American Hustle – Review

I really admire directors who experiment in their filmmaking and don’t settle within the confines of a specific genre for too long. It shows that they’re willing to move in new directions and learn new things along the way, even if it means risking failure. Above all else, it proves they are versatile. David O. Russell stands amongst the many film directors working today who have demonstrated this flexibility over their expansive careers. He has shown this versatility through his work on a range of projects that includes dramas, comedies, and everything in between.

Commanding an ensemble cast, David O. Russell returns to cinema screens with his latest film, American Hustle. Equal parts comedy and crime drama, American Hustle is loosely based on the Abscam sting operation run by the FBI during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence, the film follows lucrative con artists Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser. After they are caught ripping off a client, the erratic and unpredictable FBI agent Richie DiMaso drags Irving and Sydney into an increasingly dangerous FBI operation aimed at stamping out political corruption.

With a cast this great and a story that I was ready to sink my teeth into, it was almost impossible for American Hustle to be anything but a success. After loving the way that David O. Russell handled Silver Linings Playbook, I was really looking forward to this film. Although I have niggling problems with the film, American Hustle was a delightful way to end the year. Alongside his co-writer Eric Warren Singer, O. Russell crafts a witty and well thought out screenplay that is full of colorful criminals, fast-talking politicians, and unstable individuals. With such a rich and diverse cast of characters, the humor of the film really shines. Whether these characters were arguing over a microwave, discussing the intricacies of the operation, or battling with their superiors, O. Russell makes the humor of the film witty and bitingly sharp. Yet even with all of this focus on humor, American Hustle is laced with many strong dramatic elements. Many of the characters are clear-cut criminals, and the film doesn’t stray away from showing both the weight and consequences of their duplicitous actions. These consequences were expressed very clearly by Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence’s respective portrayals of Carmine Polito and Rosalyn Rosenfeld, with these characters feeling very much like the victims of the film.

David O. Russell once again shows that he is very capable of commanding an ensemble cast in American Hustle. Christian Bale brings complete dedication to his performance, achieving a chameleon-like transformation into the silver-tongued con artist Irving Rosenfeld. Bale embodies his character, and this isn’t just because he put on an excessive amount of weight for the role. All of his actions and small mannerisms capture the smooth talking, calculating nature of Irving. Beyond this, Bale also illustrates the character’s vulnerable side, which becomes increasingly present when Irving is thrust into situations where he feels out of his depth.

Similarly, Amy Adams did a great job with her portrayal of Irving’s partner in crime, Sydney Prosser. The scene that introduces Sydney is absolutely perfect, appearing in an utterly alluring yet mysterious fashion. These qualities grew to define the character over the course of the film, with the performance from Amy Adams making Sydney very compelling. Adams really brought the dubious and manipulative nature of Sydney to life, with her true intentions constantly appearing to change.

In addition to the two leads, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence also produce fantastic performances. As the volatile FBI agent Richie DiMaso, Bradley Cooper continues to demonstrate the range that he is capable of. Wilder than the curled hairs on his head, Cooper makes DiMaso both lively and terrifying. Scenes where DiMaso interacts with his FBI colleagues brim with humor and really stand out, showing just how unhinged this character is. While she may not be in very many scenes, Jennifer Lawrence makes the most out of every single frame she is in. As Irving’s estranged wife Rosalyn, Lawrence beautifully captures the bitter, crazed, and damaged qualities of her character. She’s mesmerizing to watch, and although she doesn’t share as much screen time as the other characters, I wouldn’t be surprised if she nabbed another Oscar nomination for her performance.

Although I really enjoyed the performances from this talented group of actors and the interesting story that is told, I have to admit that I found the mix of comedy and drama to be a bit perplexing at times. While this blending of genres worked well when it was used to explore damaged characters such as Rosalyn or innocent individuals like Carmine Polito, it wasn’t completely successful. I found that these genres undermined each other a lot of the time, producing a film that goes through a bit of an identity crisis. The humor of the film really shines, but some of the more dramatic elements didn’t carry the weight they were intended to. Scenes involving the emergence of life-threatening situations just felt out of place when compared to the humorous nature of other sections of the film. While this problem only arose briefly, it did take me out of the film.

David O. Russell once again shows how much of a talented writer and director he is with American Hustle. Although the mix of comedy and drama doesn’t quite work in some situations, American Hustle is a hilariously enjoyable film that is full of strong performances from a very talented group of actors.