Monday 6 January 2014

Film: 'AMERICAN HUSTLE'

I needed this film to be a salve in discovering that ticket prices at my favourite and most frequented art-house cinema have been hiked by a stupefying 50%. Whether this will necessarily entail a reduction in my cinema-going only the future will show.

By and large it turned out that the entertainment value of this picture eased the initial pain and surprise more than a little.

Much has already been said about the involved and intriguing plot, concerning the FBI carrying out a 'sting' aimed at exposing corrupt congressmen, along with their mafia connections and sympathies, by getting them to accept hefty monetary bribes in exchange for giving the nod to otherwise controversial schemes.
The leading FBI officer is played by Bradley Cooper, for whom I've long since had the hots, but who here looks the most scrumptious I've ever seen. If I could ever have had the looks which he exhibits in this film, if it were a requirement, I swear I would even have gone down on Mother Theresa herself - provided she agreed, of course. (A modest price to pay, surely?)
Con-artists Christian Bale and Amy Adams play his reluctant accomplices coerced into helping execute the sting. Add to the mix Jennifer Lawrence, the Bale character's tricky wife and potential trouble-maker - and Jeremy Renner as big-shot politician at the centre of the dupe, then it's a particularly fine ensemble cast. (Btw: During the course of the film the remarkable facial similarity struck me of Renner to Liberace.)

This super-slick film (good, alive script) has an interesting selection of pop hits on its soundtrack, from vaguely around the time of the film's (late)70s setting. Made me want them to play the entire things!

If I'd been on my toes I might have guessed the big twist in the film's close, and I'm sure a lot of people did. But it didn't detract from the pleasures of the build-up. I've got to say, though, that the film was just the timiest shade less impressive than I'd expected in the light of so many exceptionally positive reviews. But if I score it slightly higher than my previously-seen film, 'All Is Lost', it's only because the latter is a film I'm pleased to have seen the once, whereas I'd look forward to seeing 'American Hustle' a second time....................7.5

10 comments:

  1. Ray,
    I'm looking forward to seeing this film. I loved "Silver Linings Playbook." Keep these movie reviews coming!
    Ron

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    1. I'll be amazed if you dislike it, Ron. 'Playbook' was certainly exceptional - helped no end for me by the casting of you-know-who.

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  2. I liked "American Hustle" too and I kept wondering who Renner looked like ... now I know!

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    1. Yes, at times the resemblance was quite uncanny. But I also remembered that you'd liked the film so it just had to be a good one, as it was.

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  3. We were going to see this this evening
    But he weather put us off...... Shame.... Looks good......I may go tomorrow!

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    1. It's well worth weathering the weather for, J.G.

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  4. After the Mother Teresa comment... I completely lost focus.

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    1. I wasn't sure what you were talking about, Mitch - until I read through what I'd written. Oh, THAT?! Well, one often writes what first comes to ones mind, doesn't one? - Only this time it got through the revision process. Still, a bit late to take it out now.

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  5. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie which I wasn't too keen on seeing. It is the kind of movie that you know that something is coming, but can't wait for it to happen. Anyway, delighted by the whole cast. I have a feeling history will repeat itself and this will be a leading contender at Oscar just as "Silver Linings" was.

    I am wondering if this film brought Scorsese to mind. It did for me.

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    1. I was excited by the high expectation cast, Paul, and I don't mean just Mr C. Whatever the film this lot had been in I would have wanted to see it. Besides, beforehand the almost unanimous favourable reviews made it a must. And it delivered!
      I think it deserves to win at least one of the leading Oscars, and I've just heard today that it's got 10 nominations for the Brit awards (just one short of 'Gravity', though I thought this was the more entertaining of the two)) which precedes the Oscars slightly.
      I hadn't considered Scorsese during this but I suppose there is a superficial resemblance. It certainly had all his slickness.

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