American Hustle: A Solid Piece of Cinema

American Hustle

Directed by: David O. Russell

Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence

Hello! I have a new review for you today. This time, it's David O. Russell's American Hustle. For those of you who follow this blog with any regularity you'll know that the real reason I saw this film was because of Jennifer Lawrence's supporting role. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the film was an incredible platform for all of the actors in this star-studded cast. 

American Hustle feels like cinema. It is not big explosions or body counts larger than a small midwest town. In fact, it's mostly talking, a lot of talking. While Lawrence was the big draw for me, I was also attracted to Russell's second big screen hit in the past two years and I had to see how using essentially the same cast of characters in a new film would play out. Silver Linings Playbook was a genuinely well crafted film that enjoyed quite a bit of success and I was eager to see what Russell was going to come up with next.

It should be said that I love films from the 1970's. Barbra Streisand, Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda, and films like Klute, Chinatown and A Woman Under the Influence, are all such incredible expressions of an under appreciated era in American film culture. The 70's are distinct far beyond disco, the dark, gritty crime dramas influenced heavily by the Vietnam war, Civil Rights, Watergate and the Kennedy Assassination are like the Iron Age in American cinema. The gloss of Hollywood had fallen out of favor with audiences that were neck deep in the realness of the world. 

Fast-forward 40 years and it's a challenge for contemporary filmmakers to capture such an enigmatic time in society with any sense of authenticity. There is not only a particular look that needs to be replicated with the environment but there is also a unique attitude in the way people talked, walked and carried themselves. In some respects, American Hustle did a pretty good job capturing the feel of the the time, much of that came from Amy Adams in the role of con-artist Sydney Prosser.

Amy Adams has always been a non-entity on my radar. She has done some very reputable films and has always had a favorable view in the general populous. However, she never has made much of an impression on me. Until now. I was absolutely mesmerized by her performance, she was glowing. And it has nothing to do with her beauty, but her complete dedication to her role. She walked the walk, and talked the talk and when she put her hair in tight, slightly frizzy curls, she looked as if she walked out of a time machine straight out of 1978.

There is a great scene where Sydney and Irving (Christian Bale) have an argument in their hotel room. Sydney has decided that their relationship isn't working and she wants to break it off. She is crushed that despite the love they have for each other, he still feels obligated towards his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) and their son. The break up is complicated because Sydney and Irving are intertwined in a federal bribery/fraud investigation and working as informants to avoid jail time. Sydney tells Irving that despite him breaking her heart, she is going to play her role perfectly (that of a wealthy British investor) and she is going to do everything she can to remind him of what he is losing as well as keep both of them out of jail.

During this conversation her hair is looks like a ginger Marcia Brady and she wears a long silk night gown like Faye Dunaway in Eyes of Laura Mars. The way she moves, her expressions, everything about Adams is great, she embodies the era with the cadence of her voice, and every gesture that she makes. Though it must be stated that with Adam's triumph, there was equal failure. 

I really liked this star studded cast. I think there was a truly great chemistry between the characters and the actors who played them. Though I am teetering of whether or not Bradley Cooper was the right choice for the role of the police investigator, Richie DiMasio. He seemed less dedicated to the authenticity of the role and seemed to get a little caught up in the theatrics. The 70's cop is an easy role to parody and very difficult to get right. His character was meant to supply some of the films comedy but in the end it was a bit of a lost opportunity.

Christian Bale surprised me in this film, and it's not because his performance wasn't satisfactory. In fact, the role of Irving Rosenfeld is somewhat outside of what we have come to expect from the Dark Knight himself. Bale has always been known to take on roles that are larger than life, but this did not keep with that trend, which isn't a bad thing. Irving is what I consider to be a meek character. He is caught between his love for Sydney and his obligation towards Rosalyn, he is a lousy, mid-grade con-artist and willing to sell out his friends to save his own skin. I found that this was a really interesting character for Bale and it was not, at all, what I was expecting.

The supporting cast in this film is pretty outstanding as well. Jennifer Lawrence really captured Irving's wife Rosalyn perfectly, and Rosalyn is a real piece of work. She is a fast talking, chain smoking wino whose level of irresponsibility and smart-assery are off the charts, she also supplies almost all of the comedy in the film. What I loved about her character was her compulsive need to be right, and to be validated in her rightness at all costs. She takes credit for things she had nothing to do with, and while it's played for laughs, one can see that she does it as a way to protect herself in a world and in a relationship where she feels vulnerable.

#scienceoven

My favorite scene in the film is when Irving, Dimasio, Sydney and Rosalyn all attend a fancy cocktail party that is crucial to Sydney's and Irving's con to entrap the people's politician Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) in a bribe. Sydney is upset upon seeing Irving and the stunningly gorgeous Rosalyn together, but that doesn't even come close to the incensed look on Roslyn's face upon seeing Sydney staring her down. Rosalyn creates a scene and announces to everyone that Sydney is her husbands 'whore.' She fumes as men buy her drinks to calm her down.

Moments later, Sydney meets Rosalyn in the bathroom and starts telling her that she should leave Irving because she doesn't love him and knows he is sleeping around. Rosalyn launches into the most beautiful monologue in which she tells Sydney that, "sometimes in life all you have is a set of fucked up choices," then she laughs maniacally, kisses Sydney and walks out. It was hands down, the most perfectly executed scene in the entire film. Adams and Lawrence together are electric, and it has nothing to do with the kiss. They play off each other so well that I wish the film had been entirely about the two of them.

The biggest piece of criticism I have for this film is the cinematography. I was so, wildly disappointed. I felt like there was a pretty massive opportunity to do something truly gritty and 70's. They should have used some grainy film stock or bumped up the oranges, browns and grain in post. The film was far, far, far too glossy for my liking and it reminded me with every frame, that this was just an interpretation of the 70's, it didn't actually immerse me in the era. The film had its fleeting moments of cinematic beauty, but it still felt too contemporary. However, the overall production design was pretty flawless, though I think it would have been better served if the cinematography had been held up to a higher standard.

Overall, there is a lot to love about this film. It is not my favorite of the year, but it is worth seeing. They are pitching this film as a comedy but I didn't find it particularly comedic. I think a drama punctuated with some funny situations is a far better characterization. The biggest strength of this film is clearly the cast. The story is ok, I was interested in it, but it's not remarkable in any sense. I think the average person will thoroughly enjoy American Hustle. It's a solid, well executed film.

B : The film gets a solid B thanks to flawless performances by Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence and an interesting performance from Christian Bale. The film is fun, if a little heavy on the dialogue. The cinematography was disappointing for me, but it was slightly softened by great production design, interesting costumes.

Have you seen American Hustle? What did you think? Comment below! 

Find Your Silver Lining: Silver Linings Play Book

Silver Linings Plybook

Directed by: David O. Russell

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro

Directed by David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook is a look at a modern American life and the strange and often uncomfortable truths we deal with in our relationships. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of romantic comedies. I find that 90% of the time they portray unrealistic expectations of men and women, and appeal to the lowest common denominator. But, before you go running for hills, in an attempt to avoid sappy dialogue and cliche themes, let me say that this film does romantic comedy right.

What makes this film funny is its honest portrayal of two damaged people and their stubborn unwillingness to accept or deal with reality. The film follows Pat (Bradley Cooper), a bipolar man recently released from a psychiatric facility and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) a young widow with a sorted past and a less than flattering reputation.  It is not clear from the beginning what Pat did to land himself in the psyche ward, and we meet him as he returns to his parents house and starts to readjust to a regular life.

Tiffany is an amazing character, however, I don't know how much of my opinion of her comes from my love of Jennifer Lawrence. Tiffany is the sister of Pat's best friend's wife and lives in a converted garage in her parents back yard. She is highly emotional and says what she feels when she feels it. She has a spit-fire attitude and is incredibly reactionary to the people and situations around her. While she can be over the top, she is mostly fragile and emotionally unstable after the accidental death of her young husband. We see her go from aloof, to enraged in seconds, causing scenes without any reservation. We all know a crazy chick like Tiffany, but the film taps into the nuance of her character and shows us what makes her the way she is. She is not a weak woman, she is very real in all her beauty and chaos.

Tiffany's character can be summed up by one particular scene. The first time she goes out with Pat, he takes her to a cheap diner and orders cereal, to prove that they were not on a date. The two begin to discuss their messy lives in graphic detail. Pat discusses his relationship issues with his wife and his time in the hospital, and Tiffany talks about how many people she slept with after the death of her husband. Pat insists that everyone else is to blame for his problems, and that he is a victim of circumstance, while she was clearly just crazy slut.

This accusation sets Tiffany off, and she flies into a rage complete with yelling, smashing dishes, and storming off. Pat follows her out onto the street and we see a glimpse into Tiffany's inner dialogue as she chastises Pat for judging her. She goes through a rapid succession of emotions, from angry to hurt to vengeful to apologetic, in just a few minutes. It is the type of emotional roller-coaster a lot of people can relate to.

Pat is also a deeply complex character and is played perfectly by Bradley Cooper. In the words of my friend, "damn, who knew Bradley Cooper could act?" Pat is a former teacher and on the outside a generally normal guy. But we learn thought out the course of the film that he was in the hospital after nearly beating his wife's lover to death in a fit of bi-polar rage. He was sentenced to 8 months in a psychiatric facility and served a restraining order by his estranged wife Nikki (Brea Bee).

Pat is obsessed with Nikki and believes he can win her back if he loses weight and gets his illness under control. He adopts the slogan, "find your silver lining" as his mantra and desperately tries to find the good in every situation, even when things are clearly out of control. While it seems like a good practice for someone being treated for mental illness, we see how self-destructive he can be. He is manic and hyped up all the time, and seems to never sit still. You can can't tell when Pat is going to laugh or fly off the handle at any given time and it causes everyone around him to walk on egg shells.

As a condition of his release, Pat was put into the care of his parents. Pat Sr. (Robert DeNiro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver). As older parents of an adult child, they are unsure how to act around their son. They are torn between wanting to allow him freedom, and wanting him to stick to a routine with medication and therapy. Pat Sr. and Dolores urge Pat to forget Nikki and focus on himself and family. But Pat ignores these requests and follows his own selfish path which puts him at odds with his concerned family and friends.

The most compelling scene in the film starts when Pat finishes talking with his therapist and returns home to look for his wedding video. He starts out calm, checking closets and boxes, but quickly becomes angry. Dolores comes in and attempts to help him look for the video, in hopes of calming Pat down. The situation becomes out of hand as Pat loses control, tearing apart his room and yelling. Pat Sr. intervenes and beings to fight with Pat which causes Dolores to become hysterical. The whole situation dissolves to the point that Pat hits his mother, knocking her to the ground. Pat Sr. then pins Pat to the bed. Pat relents as he gains control over himself and begins crying and apologizing.

The pain and the shame reflected in him in that moment underscores the struggle Pat faces daily, and how his mantra, while lacking in substance, seems to be the only thing that gives him a sense of control.  We also see the confusion and helplessness Pat Sr. feels looking down at his crying son. I think the film does a good job of portraying the difficulty mentally ill people face and lack of control their families feel. Robert DeNiro does an amazing job portraying Pat's obsessive compulsive, football crazy father, who blames himself for Pat's illness.

American culture has this resistance to dealing with mental health issues. When mentally ill people are portrayed in film, they are often portrayed as the villain, or lack nuance and complexity. What struck me about Silver Linings Playbook was the humanistic way they approached Pat's issues with being bi-polar and Tiffany's struggle with grief.

But it is not all serious, there are lots of comedic moments provided throughout the film by supporting characters like Danny (Chris Tucker) and Ronnie (John Ortiz). Danny is Pat's friend from the psychiatric facility who is always sneaking out of the hospital to see Pat. He portrays the lighter side of mental illness with his quirky enthusiasm and obsession with hair. Ronnie is married to Tiffany's older sister Veronica (Julia Stiles) and struggles to live up to her expectations and expensive taste. Ronnie is over all a good husband, but he is the type who complains about his wife behind her back, but always smiles and tries his hardest to please while in her presence.

The film unfolds rather predictably to be honest, and at the end of the film all the loose ends are tied up, which audiences love. After careful consideration I have concluded that all the accolades and the 8.1 rating on IMDB are all a bit overrated. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this film and it is absolutely worth seeing. But you will be rather disappointed if you go in expecting to see something new. It is a great movie about an often hidden side of the American family, but the cut and dry nature of it doesn't really feel right in the end.

(Ladies, if you are having a hard time talking your man into seeing this movie, tell him that they talk a lot of football, especially if he's a Eagle's fan.)

B+ : Over all a great film and worth seeing, but a bit too predictable in my opinion. It would be rather forgettable if it wasn't for all the award nominations/wins.


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