Film : The American Hustle

Release Date : 17th January, 2014
Time : 138 minutes
Director, Co-Writer : David O Russell; Co-Writer : Eric Singer; Music : Danny Elfman
Starring : Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Michael Pena, Louis CK, Alessandro Nivalo, Elisabeth Rohm

It was nice to see people in different roles than what we are used to. And the story wasn’t bad too, though, honestly speaking I was quite distracted by the amazing cleavage on constant display by Amy Adams (and by Jennifer Lawrence when she was on screen).

Con artist, Bale, and his partner, Amy, enjoy playing in the small leagues. Going after desperate men, promising them a loan, using Amy’s non-existent royal English banking connections. Until they are trapped by the Feds. Forced to work for them. And play in leagues where people get hurt.

Bradley is really good as a hyperactive FBI officer, looking to clean up the country, Louis CK is even better as his long suffering boss. Jeremy Renner plays the well meaning Mayor to near perfection. And Jennifer Lawrence is eminently believable as Bale’s ditzy blonde wife, who lives on a slightly different planet from the rest of us – and may cause the world to come crashing around everyone else – much as she does the scientific oven.

There is enough going in the film to keep you engrossed. On a personal front – Bale is torn between his love for Amy and his adopted son. Amy is similarly torn between Bradley and Bale. And then, of course, there is the big con they are setting up. Involving various congressmen, senators. And The Mob.

The film is set in ’78, New York and the look, especially given the normal look for these stars, is almost as interesting as the story. Bale is a hairy-chested, balding, hopelessly unfit, nervous kind of bloke. Bradley Cooper as a curly haired, creepy looking guy, is simply out of control, fuelled high on drinks and drugs. Jennifer Lawrence, a blond in every sense of the word. And lastly, normally good girl Amy Adams, who, in this film, simply lets it all hang out !

The film drags a bit in the second half, the end is slightly too pat but its good viewing nonetheless. Its remarkable how real the emotion, the angst of Bale dealing with the women in his life is portrayed in the film – I like the way most English films manage to do this without too much drama…love, life and the art of luring people in easy chewable-sized bites.