American Hustle

Last December director David O. Russell's film staring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro expanded into hundreds of theaters across the country. It instantly became a critical darling, audience favorite, and financial success. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, made over eleven times its budget, and was one of my personal favorites of last year. This December David O. Russell ads Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Jeremy Renner to his old cast, upgrades to a historical drama, and attempts to recapture that lightning in a bottle.


The movie opens with the line "Some of this actually happened." This is when you know you're in for an experience. In 1978, con man Irving Rosenfeld and his lover Sydney Prosser are happy ripping off suckers looking for a loan and selling fake art to wannabe collectors. Happy until they capture the attention of up-and-coming FBI Agent Richie DiMaso who offers them a plea bargain to help him capture four other con artists. This originally small time sting snowballs into the now well known Abscan involving corrupt politicians, well meaning politicians, and the ever sinister mob.


To be clear, American Hustle is already a critical darling and is fully expected to rack up at least a few awards. My only question is: Why? It has been compared to Goodfellas often and one reviewer even suggested that Russell "come(s) close to out-Scorsese-ing Scorsese," Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes all hold it in "universal acclaim," and I am still left unimpressed. Was it entertaining? Sure, in a slightly confusing and brash way. Strong performances? Too be sure. Silver Linings Playbook was a quiet indie that captured audiences with its honest portrayals and fresh story. American Hustle is an unabashedly, in your face of an attempt to be the the great awards worthy movie and in that, it falls flat. Positively fantastic? Not so much...more like passable frolic.