Tag: The Fighter

Geekscape Second Opinion: ‘American Hustle’

by jake108

American Hustle is yet another entry into what is beginning to shape up as the Golden Era of David O. Russell’s career as a filmmaker. Following last year’s hit Silver Linings Playbook, Russell stacks his cast with many of the same faces. The film is set around two con artists and one FBI agent. The film begins by setting up the two con artists, using conventions and techniques usually found in the gangster genre. Think Casino. The first 20 or so minutes have inner monologues, tracking shots, and long takes that all take character over plot. However, as long as we’re talking about David O. Russell here, character over plot isn’t a bad thing.

American Hustle is very much a character driven film, as it should be. Christian Bale knocks this role out of the park. And Jeremy Renner? It almost made me completely forget about how static Hawkeye was in The Avengers. Moving on. Both Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence are definitely deserving of best acting nominations. As the film went on, I couldn’t help but think that the two were playing themselves in some scenes. This thought was solidified upon further reading that there was more than a few scenes where the actors would improv. Bradley Cooper delivers what seems to be his greatest performance yet and has great chemistry with both Adams and Bale. Regardless, an ensemble cast that works this well together should not be so quickly overlooked. American Hustle deserves audiences for this feat alone.

As hinted at earlier, Russell’s directorial style is hitting a smooth stride; a stride so flawless, so self-reflexive, you can tell he’s having fun with it. It’s a film made with the same love and care that Silver Linings came from. The director trademarks are there, such as close ups of handholding, and the various musical montages are a blast. All this while the production and costume design will have you invested in the film’s setting and story.

Aside from a few ADR and editing quips, American Hustle delivers a powerful experience, one that with themes and questions that’ll have you thinking while you’re walking out of the theater. In American Hustle, everyone hustles to survive. Do you?

American Hustle is currently in limited release and goes wide on December 20, 2013.

I’d love to talk more about the film as you all see it, so don’t be afraid to comment below!

Be sure to read MCDave’s review of the film here!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: American Hustle

by MCDave

To steal a quote from Woody Harrelson in the 1992 comedy White Men Can’t Jump, filmmaker David O. Russell is “in the zone”. Russell finds himself in the midst of an unbelievable directorial stretch that will surely bring him his third consecutive Best Picture Nomination when they’re officially announced early next year. In his latest masterpiece, American Hustle, the writer/director puts a clever fictionalized spin on the FBI’s ABSCAM operation which took place in the late 1970s. So clever, in fact, that we may have found our next Academy Awards Best Picture winner.

After con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his seductive mistress, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), are arrested for loan fraud by up-and-coming FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), they have two options: either face some serious jail time, or help DiMaso bring down four other high profile criminals. Needless to say Irving and Sydney choose the latter, assisting DiMaso in a sting operation that couples New Jersey politician Camine Polito (Jeremy Renner), countless political officials and dangerous members of the mafia. The only wild card in the matter is Irving’s wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), whose instability could put the whole operation in jeopardy.

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With David O. Russell’s American Hustle, you can expect a big-time splash that will leave a ripple effect on just about every major Oscar race out there. The filmmaker has coached his two previous casts to 7 … let that sink in for a minute … 7 Oscar nominations with their work in both Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter. Current cast members Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence understand the greatness of Russell as he helped lead both of them to their only Academy Awards victories. As expected, American Hustle delivers no shortage of fine performances. From top to bottom the cast is excellent. It all starts with leading man Christian Bale who packs on the pounds and shaves the center of his head to truly capture the art of the comb-over. Not only does Bale display onscreen excellence yet again, he continues to remind us of his dedication to the craft. There may not be a more committed actor on the entire planet. But he is far from the only shining star, perhaps Bradley Cooper is most impressive with a towering turn as Richie DiMaso, a young FBI agent who becomes more and more obsessed with making the biggest bust in U.S. history. And let’s not forget Jennifer Lawrence. While the young actress moseys along and embraces all of the onscreen recognition and public love she’s been receiving, her performance actually feels like one of the least convincing roles in the film, although still fantastic. American Hustle‘s ensemble is spectacular and, without question, the finest of the year.

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You’ll need to search for flaws in David O. Russell’s American Hustle, but one irritating aspect is the director’s fixation on the time period. There’s no subtlety to it whatsoever. Russell continually throws the 1970 vibe right in your face by purposely calling attention to it throughout the entire film. In some ways it feels as though he sacrifices substance for style and it’s a shame. Furthermore, American Hustle does tend to drag on in its latter stages. You can sense where the movie’s headed, but Russell takes his merry old time getting there. Thankfully, the writer/director has mastered the art of story-telling and uses a sharp comedic tone to help balance his out-stretched tale of power, greed and pushing the limits. By the time American Hustle is all said and done, it’s obvious that Russell has a winning effort on his hands, one that’s assured to garner plenty of attention on its road to the Oscars.

With the clock winding down and the cinematic year coming to a screeching halt, 2013 finally has a film that stands out above the rest. American Hustle is an energetic and hilarious adventure. And despite the fact that its dramatics aren’t overly “touching” or “moving”, nor should they be, American Hustle is a fun and engaging ride that you won’t want to miss.

GRADE: 4.5/5

Check out lots of other reviews and fun movie lists at Movie Reviews By Dave.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Silver Linings Playbook

by MCDave

This year’s Philadelphia Film Festival couldn’t have lined up a better Opening Night Film. David O. Russell’s latest work, Silver Linings Playbook, truly embodies the City of Brotherly Love. Everything about the film looks, sounds and feels like Philadelphia. From the carefully selected suburban neighborhoods that appear throughout the movie to our beloved football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s clear that David O. Russell “gets” this often misunderstood city. The director creates a strong and unbreakable kind of bond that’s sure to last a lifetime … especially around here.

Bradley Cooper stars as Pat Solitano, a former high school teacher doing a stint in a mental facility after coming home to his wife having an affair and then severely beating her lover. It’s safe to say that Pat has some issues with anger management and certain “triggers”, like his tainted wedding song that’s guaranteed to set him off on a rampage. On the other hand there’s Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence), a recent widow whose self loathing and erratic antics help support the fact that she’s clearly off her rocker too. But when the pair of crazies decide to help one another out with some sizable favors, they soon discover the best way to help make sense of this screwed up world.

David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook is a surprisingly upbeat and off-the-wall examination of mental health disorders. Way funnier than I anticipated it to be, the director chooses to approach this serious issue with a delicate sense of humor. What could have easily been sold as a dark comedy with a completely different tone, Silver Linings Playbook stays light and refreshing throughout its two hour running time. Perhaps most impressive about David O. Russell’s latest work is the script’s ability to generate a fluent tempo. The character development and plot are frequently progressing, giving Silver Linings Playbook a perfectly suited pace. Never lethargic or lifeless, the film has a pair of tremendously talented stars to thank for such an excellent result. Bradley Cooper continues to elevate his work and a performance such as this one should clearly put him on the Oscar’s radar. But for as phenomenal as Cooper is throughout the film, his counterpart, Jennifer Lawrence, still tends to overshadow his efforts. Lawrence, who has already landed a Best Actress Nomination for her work in the indie hit Winter’s Bone, uses this role to stamp her claim as one of Hollywood’s fastest rising female stars. There’s no limit to what the future has in store for her. Although the two leads steal the film, the quality of the cast doesn’t stop there. Robert De Niro’s name is already floating around the Best Supporting Actor race for his portrayal of Pat’s football crazed father, Pat Sr. Even though I can agree with the praise being thrown De Niro’s way, I was almost equally impressed by Chris Tucker’s character. Completely outside of his normal loud-mouthed range, Tucker demonstrates a more mature style of acting which shouldn’t be ignored. Once again, writer/director David O. Russell assembles a fantastic collection of talent and uses their glowing performances to constantly elevate his work.

Despite all of its commendable aspects, there are a few fair complaints with Silver Linings Playbook. Most notable is an uncomfortable and awkward feel surrounding the character Jake Solitano (played by Boardwalk Empire‘s Shea Whigham). As Pat’s older brother, Jake never finds his niche in the story and it results in plenty of stumbling scenes. Knowing that Silver Linings Playbook is based on Matthew Quick’s novel of the same name, maybe Jake’s character serves a more purposeful role in that platform. Yet, here he does nothing but detract from the otherwise smooth flowing pace of the film. Another small blemish with the feature is some inconsistencies revolving around the final scenes. The audience, like Pat, is force fed a dose of reality that his ex-wife is no longer interested in talking to him. As if her restraining order against him isn’t proof enough. Therefore, when she comes back into the story at the movie’s conclusion, it feels like a bloated Hollywood-esque move on behalf of the writer and director David O. Russell. While none of its faults are detrimental to the success of the film, Silver Linings Playbook easily moves past these flaws and remains one of the year’s best pictures.

With an early head of steam in the race to the Oscar’s, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook is a serious contender. Finding a large amount of solace in its surprisingly original comedic tone, this Oscar hopeful is in a league of its own. Because of a dazzling ensemble and a lovable pair of crazed characters, Silver Linings Playbook clearly stands out among its Oscar competitors. Due out around Thanksgiving, Silver Linings Playbook is the type of fun and energetic film you make it a point to see. Heed my advice and mark your calendars.

Grade: 4/5

Feel free to check out other work by MCDave at Movie Reviews By Dave