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.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire!!!!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The second film in The Hunger Games book trilogy this film has alot of anticipation and of course the return to screen for the Oscar winning actress Jennifer Lawrence. 

The film of course starts as we see the changed lives of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who live in a seperate winners village. Travelling around the various districts to thank them and to show the world their true love for each other they have to keep the people peaceful. 

President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) is constantly watching the couple and advises Katniss that she convinces the people of the districts her love for Peeta to keep the peace of face the consequences. With some advice from Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) he wants Katniss dead so he changes the 75th annual hunger games reaping. The winners from the past 74 hunger games will be chosen to represent their district in the 75th hunger games (The Quarter Quell) which means Katniss and Peeta will be fighting to survive yet again. 

With the build-up to the hunger games Katniss and Peeta must make allies to fight with when in the arena to survive. Each competitor showing off their skills most of them are impressed with Katniss's archery skills and decide to be allies with her. Finally in the arena they are all up against different various challenges, raving mad baboons, acid gas, a river of blood and flocks of mockingjays they have a big task ahead of them. With everything against them, the threat of their families being killed and President Snow set on having Katniss dead what will happen to Katniss and Peeta?

The film itself is a big improvement from the first one and it has a great pace to it, building up from all the preperation your soon enough thrown right into the action. Seeing Katniss and Peeta back in the arena and this time with alot more allies gives a more unified feel to the 75th quarter quell. The different elements in which they are up against is a great idea as they are not only fighting for survival but also fighting the elements as well. 

Jennifer Lawrence is again just on fine form and you can tell she has become an impressive actress who falls into the character of Katniss so easily and no doubt she'll get better and better. The supporting cast of Hoffman, Sutherland, Harrelson and newly added Jena Malone and Sam Claflin give the film a bit more variety and brings in more characters to progress through the film.

For a second film in the hunger games franchise it is a step up and really impresses, with the same director on board for Mockingjay Part 1 you can expect something just as impressive and action filled with yet more big name actors added to the franchise. 

9/10.