American Hustle

                                                       

        There is something about the con game that Hollywood is in love with. It is simple really, they make great stories, they are extremely entertaining, and let’s face it, who doesn’t like seeing the rich get ripped-off?  I think that love affair began with a little film called “The Hustler” in 1961. Since then it has only grown with films like “The Sting”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Catch Me if You Can”. As you can tell a lot of great movies involve a story about the confidence game, and it looks like that streak continues. “American Hustle” is a story very loosely based on a FBI investigation from the seventies called Abscam. As interesting as the real story is, this film version might be even better.

       Irving (Christian Bale) is a small time hustler with his hand in a few things. Everything really gets going when he meets Sydney (Amy Adams) who gives his confidence game some class. The money starts to flow in, which gets the attention on Richie Dimaso (Bradley Cooper), a young FBI agent who is looking to make a name for himself. Facing jail time Irving and Sydney go to work for Dimaso to help him land the big fishes that he really wants to catch. They start with a young and charismatic mayor named Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), who is trying to rebuild Atlantic City. With Polito as the bait Dimaso wants to take down everyone who he believes is “ruining” this country. What follows is the perfect story of what can happen when you don’t know when to stop.

       There is no secret about what this movie is about, it is right there in the title. “American Hustle”, which is directed by the always great David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), who also co-wrote the script with Eric Singer, is the real deal. They always say that imitation is the best form of flattery, and Russell has done just that with this film. “American Hustle” feels very much like Scorsese’s classics “Goodfellas “and “Casino”, but also very original. It’s like David O. Russell doing his kind of Scorsese film, and boy did it turn out right. As great as the story is, in which you won’t find many better this year, the biggest selling point, which you can tell from the trailers is the acting. Everyone is amazing in it, with performances that seem to one up each other as the film progresses. As good as everyone is, Jennifer Lawrence continues to show why she is one of the top actors out there.

This is a prime example of why we go to the movies, great story, amazing performances, and a soundtrack that is heaven to your ears. Every year the holidays bring so many good choices at the movie theater, and it can be hard to choose what to see. Well let me save you the trouble, go see “American Hustle”, because in the season of giving, this is one movie that knows how to give.

Brian Taylor