American Hustle Review

Everyone hustles to survive.

Full, spoiler-free review by Isaac Handelman

Watching the pieces of American Hustle fall into place is almost as smooth as watching the pieces of one of Irving Rosenfeld’s masterful cons come together to one glorious outcome. Rarely do I come across films that are so difficult to criticize. Remarkably acted, slickly directed, and chock full of smart drama and laughs, this is surely one of 2013’s finest cinematic offerings -- if not its very best.

Though it positions Christian Bale as its star, American Hustle is, in truth, an ensemble act; incidentally, what’s arguably most impressive in this film (keeping in mind that’s it’s chock full of impressive elements) is its cast. The film centers on Irving Rosenfeld (Bale), a master con man, and his lover/partner-in-crime, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), who partner with a man named Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) to take down corrupt politicians. I won’t divulge the specifics of Hustle’s narrative, because part of the fun of the film is in how the story reveals itself.

Plenty of films these days boast high-caliber, star-studded lineups. Few of these all-star casts manage to deliver, all-barrels blazing, to the extent that American Hustle’s cast does. In fact, American Hustle is the most well-acted film I have seen in quite a long time. Every one of the film’s leading actors and actresses is above stellar. Christian Bale is as mesmerizing an on-screen presence as ever. As per the usual, the physical lengths he went to in order to prepare for his role as Rosenfold are astounding, but not nearly as impressive as his electric performance. Bale steals the show in most of the films he’s in; not so with Hustle. That’s by no fault of Bale himself, but rather the equally towering successes of his co-stars.

Irving, Sydney and Richie prepare for action.

Amy Adams plays her off-character role with grace, effortlessly juggling intelligence and seductive sexiness, and demonstrating her astounding emotional range. Bradley Cooper demonstrates his comedic talent, but never relies on laughs to carry his performance; he plays on the same level as Bale, giving pitch-perfect monologues and proving once and for all that he has far more up his sleeves than his humbler Hangover origins would suggest. Cooper is perhaps one of the most promising up-and-coming male stars in present-day Hollywood. 

Jeremy Renner initially seems to struggle keeping pace with the greats surrounding him, but the fault soon becomes an obvious product of the character, not the actor, and by the film’s end Renner endears himself to the audience. His character is altogether hugely likable, hilariously perfect and subtly tragic. And Jennifer Lawrence gives a typically phenomenal performance. She’s in a role unlike anything she’s done before, taking up the part of Rosenfeld’s crass, goofy, self-absorbed, clueless-but-somehow-lovable wife, and is a surefire contender for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

The ensemble partakes in a brilliant narrative containing a couple of particularly memorable twists and turns, and always remaining just complex enough to remain engaging through multiple viewings while never becoming too difficult to follow. All in all, it’s a fantastically fun story that manages to strike an expert balance between personal romance and engaging tales of cons and deception. The fact that the screenplay happens to be so funny is simply icing on the cake. Hustle is filled to the brim with clever quips and some amusing, sparingly utilized physical humor (both slapstick and in the form of facial expressions) courtesy of Bradley Cooper. If I had to nitpick, I’d say that my single issue with American Hustle would be that the film loses a bit of energy in the minutes leading up to its climax, making me think that the film could have benefitted from a slightly trimmed runtime. Hustle is quick to recover from this stumble, though, and is soon back on track and more engaging than ever.

Lawrence tackles a new kind of role and succeeds.

David O. Russell again proves his directing prowess with American Hustle, which is perhaps his greatest directorial achievement thus far. His direction is unique, bouncing between subtle and stylish, but never becoming obtuse. Russell vividly captures the distinct visual style of the 1970s, and marries it with a strong era-specific soundtrack that adds to the fun and excitement of Hustle’s narrative. It’s difficult to pinpoint just what’s so distinct about Russell’s style, but his direction always lends energy to the proceedings, and he of course manages to wring the aforementioned magnificent performances out of his cast.

American Hustle is a prime example of intelligent entertainment. It’s a riotously good time at the movies, but doesn’t resort to any of the Hollywood norms that make some of today’s blockbusters so tiring and bland despite their bloated budgets. The breathtaking performances of Hustle’s central cast elevate what would have already been a smartly written, sleekly directed crime flick to dizzying heights.