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.

The Hunt – Review

White lies and unsubstantiated rumors can have powerful, far-reaching consequences. This is the crux of the 2012 film The Hunt, written and directed by Thomas Vinterberg. Starring Mads Mikkelsen as Lucas, The Hunt is set in a close-knit Danish community where Lucas works as a kindergarten teacher. Lucas’s peaceful world is turned upside down when he is falsely accused of sexually assaulting a young girl, becoming the subject of extreme persecution from the entire community.

Vinterberg’s previous experience working on films that deal with similarly provoking themes is extremely evident in his handling of The Hunt. The gravity of the accusations against Lucas and the damaging repercussions that they have on him are captured perfectly. A great sense of intimacy is injected into the film, keeping it uncompromisingly personal in the way it tells the story of Lucas’s very public persecution. Every detail of The Hunt is handled with care and finesse. Vinterberg and his co-writer Tobias Lindholm craft a story so brutally authentic in its depiction of this very unsettling scenario that the film remains compulsively watchable from its serene opening through to its unforgettable conclusion.

Mads Mikkelsen’s portrayal of Lucas stands as the centerpiece of The Hunt. In the hands of an actor with less range, this performance could have significantly undermined the overall effectiveness of the film. I was pleased this wasn’t the case with Mikkelsen’s portrayal of Lucas. Mads Mikkelsen has grown to become one of my favorite actors working today, and his performance in The Hunt only reinforced my opinion. He really captured the kindhearted, innocent personality of Lucas, an ordinary citizen just going about his day. Mikkelsen brings this to life through Lucas’s strong bond with his teenage son, and his interactions with friends and relatives. From the moment he came on screen, Mikkelsen made Lucas an absolutely compelling and tragic protagonist.

Mikkelsen not only embodied the genuine innocence of Lucas, he also perfectly conveyed the severe trauma and psychological anguish the character experiences over the course of the film. Scenes depicting Lucas’s interactions with members of the community are heart wrenching to watch, involving cruel acts of violence and public persecution. Mikkelsen handles all of these scenes effortlessly, illustrating the complete breakdown of Lucas’s normal life. Vinterberg and Mikkelsen fully realise the consequences of the accusations against Lucas, showing his heartbreaking deterioration into a broken and bitter shadow of his former self. Performances from the supporting actors only added to this, building upon Vinterberg’s vivid depiction of this harrowing scenario and the way it affects the community.

The haunting themes and complex performances of the film are all wrapped up in some memorable cinematography. Vinterberg utilises simple camera work to effectively capture the quiet and close knit nature of the community that Lucas resides in. Simple shots of Lucas hunting deer are given a natural and tranquil beauty. Scenes depicting Lucas’s misery are filmed in an intimate way that highlights the deeply personal and confronting nature of his ordeal. This impressive camera work also reinforced many of the underlying themes in The Hunt. Vinterberg expertly juxtaposes scenes of Lucas hunting in order to emphasize the ramifications of his persecution, showing how the hunter becoming the hunted.

The Hunt delivers a frighteningly authentic examination into the ways that lies can spin out of control and severely impact people’s lives. By exploring the difficult issue of child abuse, the film certainly isn’t easy viewing. Although it may have been hard to watch at times, Thomas Vinterberg’s treatment of this subject matter with so much care and accuracy kept me completely captivated. The towering performance from Mads Mikkelsen only added to this, creating a powerful film that deals with some very serious issues.

Enough Said – Review

I cannot emphasize enough how much I love sharply written films. There’s just something magical about watching witty and snappy dialogue effortlessly delivered on screen that I really enjoy. It keeps me engaged, entertained, and interested in what I’m watching regardless of the genre. Whether it’s the biting political satire of In the Loop or the chronicling of a rising social media giant in The Social Network, sharp writing really enhances the overall quality of a film.

With her new film Enough Said, writer and director Nicole Holofcener crafts a thoughtful, well written romantic comedy. Starring Julia Louise-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini, Enough Said is centered on their respective characters, ageing single parents Eve and Albert. The films follows Eve and Albert as they first meet at a party and begin to form a close romantic relationship, with their seemingly separate worlds soon becoming eerily similar and interconnected.

The heart of Enough Said lies in the endearing relationship between Eve and Albert, and on this level the film absolutely succeeds. Through a combination of witty writing and naturalistic characterisation, Holofcener makes the relationship between Eve and Albert completely captivating to watch. Whether they were discussing intimate details such as their past relationships or simply talking about the proper etiquette involved when eating guacamole, the dynamic between the two always felt humble and engaging. A lot of this magic came from Holofcener’s screenplay. The dialogue has a snappy yet down-to-earth and natural flow that made Eve and Albert’s relationship a joy to watch. On top of this great dialogue, Holofcener’s greatest success lies in the way she makes the relationship between Eve and Albert feel so real and believable.

As wonderful as the writing is for these characters, it’s the performances from Julia Louise-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini that really bring their humble and believable relationship to life. Julia Louise-Dreyfus once again shows how talented and experienced she is when it comes to comedy. Her portrayal of Eve demonstrates her signature style of comedic acting that will be warmly familiar to those who have seen her work in TV shows like Seinfeld or Veep. This impeccable comedic work was strengthened by Julia Louise-Dreyfus’s honest and realistic portrayal of Eve, giving her a funny yet grounded nature that really endeared her to me. As the gentle giant Albert, James Gandolfini delivers a performance that is markedly different to his previous roles. Both outspoken and sweet, Gandolfini did a great job conveying the pragmatic humor of Albert on screen. Much like Julia Louise-Dreyfus, Gandolfini’s portrayal also keeps the character grounded in a believable and likeable manner. Together these two made every scene fresh and exciting. The dialogue flowed seamlessly and effortlessly between the two, leaving me utterly absorbed in these characters and their developing relationship.

On top of these central performances, Enough Said is bolstered by a number of great supporting actors. Catherine Keener, Toni Collette and Ben Falcone all deliver entertaining performances as the friends of Eve and Albert. Toni Collette and Ben Falcone were terrific as the married couple Sarah and Will, capturing the dysfunction and wholesomeness of family life. Similarly, I also felt that Eve Hewson and Tavi Gevinson did great work as Eve’s daughter Tess and her friend Chloe. While I initially thought these characters wouldn’t add anything to the plot, the performances from Hewson and Gevinson made me care about their characters much more than I ever thought that I would. Although their subplot is somewhat underdeveloped, the performances from Hewson and Gevinson provided a welcome break from the focus on Eve and Albert. Moreover, while I personally loathed Catherine Keener’s character, Marianne, I still felt she did a great job with her portrayal. All of these supporting performances only added to the authentic portrayal of everyday life captured by Holofcener.

Nonetheless, even with all of the praise I have given to Holofcener’s film, Enough Said does contain one fatal flaw. This weak point is a certain turn of events that occurs towards the end of the film. While I won’t explicitly explain what this is (because there is nothing I hate more than having crucial details spoiled in reviews), it proves to be a bit of a problem for Eve and Albert. This turn of events won’t be new to any seasoned moviegoer, and it certainly isn’t a terrible story element when handled correctly. It’s there to create an obstacle for Eve and Albert to work around, and I completely understand that without a problem popping up the film could have become a bit stale. All things considered, I felt it wasn’t handled well at all. It was drawn out for far too long and made painstakingly obvious before it was eventually revealed. For a film with such witty writing and thoughtful characters, it was a bit puzzling that Holofcener didn’t handle this area of the story with more care. This section of the plot felt so out of place when compared to the realistic and grounded nature of the film.

In the endless sea of clichéd and formulaic romantic comedies, Enough Said stands out among the rest. Writer and director Nicole Holofcener crafts a grounded and realistic film about the romance that develops between the loveable characters, Eve and Albert. Through a combination of smart writing and strong performances from Julia Louise-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, the film created an endearing and utterly captivating relationship between Eve and Albert. Although I had major problems with a particular aspect of the plot, I immensely enjoyed watching the relationship between Eve and Albert come to life in this thoughtful and genuine romantic comedy.