American Hustle!!!!

American Hustle.

The latest film from successful director David O. Russell and we are transported to the heart of a 1978 FBI ABSCAM operation. The first thing you see on screen is Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) arranging his hair, glueing his wig and folding over his comb over awaiting a meeting with a mayor in order to pay him off. Backtrack and we see the whole story of how Irving meets his partner in crime Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), the attraction between the two, the eventual scam they concoct and the people in which they con are all shown.

Eventually seeing Irving's other woman in his life, his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) and his son Danny you see that he not only cons people out of their money he also cons his loved ones. Finally caught by the FBI's Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) they both decide to work with the FBI to get a reduced prison sentence in return for bringing in four more people. 

As Richie, Irving and Sydney get more and more determined the scams starts to get more and more rediculous and complicated. Deciding to bring down Mayor Carmine (Jeremy Renner) Irving uses his charm and wit to warm the mayor round to investing a fake Sheikh's money into improving New Jersey. With mob bosses getting involved (played by a well known mob actor) things spiral out of control and Richie becomes more manic in bringing senators to judges down by filming them being bribed by money on hidden camera.

With Rosalyn becoming more reckless with who she speaks to and Irving not being able to control her his world suddenly becomes alot bleaker and darker and he has to find a way out and fast. 

For a film that has an all star cast it is impressive, O. Russell taking Amy Adams and Christian Bale from his previous film The Fighter and Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings Playbook he plays it safe with who he chooses for his cast. Of course the performances are great, Lawrence again on fine form as an out of control, crazy cooped up housewife. Bale and Adams I feel are just too heartless and show not alot on screen for me to warm to them, Cooper is intelligent on screen and brings a more comedic flashes to the film. 

I have to of course talk about the style and look of the film as well, set pieces are seriously impressive as your transported right to the heart of the late 70's. Music of course plays a key factor and scenes in clubs and bars just brings that element of nostalgia to the screen that will have older audiences laughing and smiling. 

This for me was a surprising choice for director David O. Russell as his previous films have had a human beating heart in the middle of it, Th Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook have that emotional connection with audiences this I felt didn't. 

For anyone wanting a information packed 70-80's throwback film with some strong performances then check this film out.

8/10.