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EDITOR'S PICK
'American
Hustle': A well-crafted crime buster (IANS Movie Review)
Rating: ****
There is a line in the film that goes: "People believe what they want to
believe. This is the way the world works. No black and white, always grey."
How profound and true!
And by the end of the film, one recalls the very first frame that stated,
"Some of this actually happened" in bold letters, a declaration that
feels calculated to make the audience believe so.
Filled with outrageously loud grey characters, "American Hustle" is
about a highly charged FBI agent who blackmails a small-time fraudster and his
mistress into helping him ferret out corrupt politicians from the system. It is
loosely based on the Abscam that shook America in 1978.
The film tracks the scandal through the point of view of Irving Rosenfeld and
his mistress and partner in "love and commerce" Sydney Prosser through
jigsaw flash cut edits with zoom effects and numerous he-said-she-said
voiceovers.
The politician is Carmine Polito, the mayor of Camden, New Jersey, who loves his
city, its people and is willing to go over the edge to see his city flourish.
The spoke in Irving's life is his overtly anxious wife Rosalyn, who constantly
sets fire in the kitchen and Richie DiMaso, the passionately enthusiastic FBI
agent who corners him and Sydney into aiding him arraign a few cases of
political corruption.
What starts off as a small sting operation to snitch, soon becomes an elaborate
scheme. The plan blows out of proportion, as the targets become Congressmen and
Mafioso, due to Richie's greed, impatience and weakness "to con the Mayor
to build Atlantic City".
And soon, the scurry to outdo the other in order to survive forms the crux of
the narration. But it is the constant niggling and doubting the intention of the
characters that keep the audience hooked.
The performance from every cast member is outstanding. Christian Bale as the
flabby Irving Rosenfeld leads the team. He dwells in that grey space of trust
and uncertainty, with buoyant confidence that makes you believe in his honesty,
as well as his ploys.
Bradley Cooper as the hot-headed Agent Richie, Jeremy Renner as Mayor Carmine
and Amy Adams as Sydney Prosser, a lady from Albuquerque with "nothing to
lose" along with her alter-ego Lady Edith - the well-connected socialite -
are very impressive. So is Robert DeNiro as the bald Victor Tellegio in a cameo.
But it is Jennifer Lawrence as the disgruntled Rosalyn, loud and obviously
intended as the comedic relief, who steals the show. She lights the screen as
she executes the madness and unpredictability of her character with great ease.
The credit for the brilliant performance definitely goes to the well-crafted and
occasionally funny script written by Russell and Eric Singer.
The over-the-top characters along with their spontaneous dialogues that are
carefully layered with pop songs exude a subtle intelligent brilliance of the
1970s era.
After delivering excellent films like "The Fighter" and "Silver
Linings PlayBook", Russell does not disappoint you with "American
Hustle". Despite its flaws and lack in drive, it makes-up with style and
excellence.
It is an ideal intriguing period crime film laced with comedy.
Actress Amy Adams has been announced as the recipient of this years American Cinematheque Award, which will be given to her on November 10.Read More