2013
Directed by David O. Russell
I apologize for taking so long to update this blog. I have had a ton of writing to do (that just shows how burnt out I am; I just measured my writing in weight). This has fallen pretty low on the priority list. However, I am delighted by every comment I receive, even if it takes me a bit to respond. I will renew my promises of fidelity for the new year.
In the meantime, let's talk about American Hustle. This film is based on the Abscam scandal. I have never fully gotten this scandal, but having confessed to not understanding Inception, I probably shouldn't dwell on my confusion. I don't want to sound like an idiot (see below, where I praise Real Housewives of New Jersey). Anyway, Irving Rosenfield is a small time crook. He falls for Sydney Prosser, a fellow grifter, despite the fact that he is married to the very volatile Rosalind. But the power of the boner is strong, so he partners with Sydney and begins pulling off bigger scams. They are caught by FBI agent Richie DiMaso, who blackmails them into helping his sting operation. Oh, and Christian Bale is fat. My god, the artistry.
I did not anticipate enjoying this movie. I read that most of the scenes were improvised and I figured the entire cast would be Acting so hard that it might be unbearable. While none of the performances could really be considered low-key (which is what I prefer), I was actually pleasantly surprised. Parts of the movie were fairly clunky (probably due to so many deviations from the script) but this was still a decent crime drama. I wonder if Scorsese feels threatened.
In any case, this is not a film that caters to my preferences, but I still managed to like it for what it is.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Was nominated for 10 Academy Awards but failed to win in any category.
Jennifer Lawrence drew inspiration for her character by watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey. HA! See, it's not a waste of time.
Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence made significantly less money than Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale. *bangs head against wall*
