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American Hustle

American Hustle: Multi-Oscar Nominated Crime Drama

  • Amy AdamsBradley Cooper...
  • CrimeDrama
  • David O. Russell
reviewed by
Marija Loncarevic
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American Hustle: Multi-Oscar Nominated Crime Drama

David O. Russell’s latest creation, the super-snazzy and awfully unfocused American Hustle, tells its fictionalised version of the late 70’s, FBI operation ABSCAM; a sting which managed to put away half a dozen corrupted politicians working on the East Coast.

Irving Rosenfeld (Bale)is a talented con-artist who, besides running a legit dry-cleaning business, enjoys conning people out of thousands of dollars at a time. After meeting the beautiful and equally talented Sydney Prosser (Adams), the duo soon begins selling fake art, as well as getting people bent on empty loans.

Unfortunately, they soon fall onto the radar of a rookie FBI Agent, Richard DiMaso (Cooper), who entraps the couple, enlisting them to help him bring down the city’s mobsters and corrupt politicians.  Realising that they’re way in over their heads, Sydney panics and insists on fleeing the country while Irving, who can’t bring himself in leaving behind his troubled and much-younger wife, Rosalyn (Lawrence), and his adoptive eight-year old son behind, opts to stay. 

Their primary target is New Jersey mayor, Carmine Polito (Renner), who is currently looking for funds to rebuild Atlantic City. Looking for a way to reveal Polito and his corruptive ways, the crew uses undercover FBI Agent, Paco Hernandez (Pena), to pose as a rich Arab Sheikh looking to invest; little do they know, their not-so bullet-proof plan will bring in interest from a few other, and much-bigger tycoons.

Bale, someone who has been known for his erratic physical transformations, puts on a hefty forty pounds for the role. Although he carries his ridiculous comb-over well, there is very little else on offer from the Oscar-winning actor who, unfortunately, seems lost underneath all of the prosthetics.  As the eager federal Agent, Cooper once again proves himself as capable of an incredible range, and manages to captures DiMaso’s vulnerability and willpower wonderfully. As Irving’s sexy side-kick, Adams offers plenty of sass, while Lawrence delivers yet another mesmerizing performance and is the film’s highlight.

While the story does offer a few highly-amusing, delightfully entertaining moments, it at times comes across as valuing style over substance and the general overstated aesthetic of the film takes away from the plot.

 American Hustle is seemingly impossible to categorise or identify with anything other than a Goodfellas-inspired, black-comedy caper. Bringing every possible 70s hair and wardrobe cliché into play, it could have done with downplaying the kitschy elements.

Like This? Try

Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997)

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Nit-picking aside, American Hustle is currently in the run for the gold at the upcoming Academy Award Nominations with a total of ten Oscar nominations to its name.

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