American Hustle
Go! Do the hustle.
70s conman caper.
It is #nomming time again. And no, I'm not referring to my Instagram picture of the quinoa and chickpea salad I have inexplicably persuaded myself is delicious, in order to arrive at the end of January with a marginally smaller waist and a marginally higher level of self-esteem. No, of course, this is the season when gold and silver, odd-shaped mantelpiece ornaments are given to the wealthy, most often to thank them for making us cry in public; and also to legitimise mantelpieces.
What better film to start #nomming season than American Hustle? The previous television advert for the movie skipped past explaining the storyline and characters and got right to what was important - the fact that the film has been #nommed for decent every Golden Globe under, well, the golden globe. Now, having converted three* of its seven #noms into #dullspeeches, we will be bashed over the head by how successful it was. And why wouldn't it try to cave our skulls in with its victories?
Like every delicious American creation, the ingredients (unlike my quinoa salad) are fabulously rich, with an ensemble cast that includes a (genuinely and marvellously) overweight and (artificially) balding Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Rises), a voluptuous Amy Adams (Man of Steel), an alluring Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), a wide-lapelled Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) and a curly-headed Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook). There is even a cameo role for a hyper-famous actor who doesn't even make it onto the movie poster.
What better film to start #nomming season than American Hustle? The previous television advert for the movie skipped past explaining the storyline and characters and got right to what was important - the fact that the film has been #nommed for decent every Golden Globe under, well, the golden globe. Now, having converted three* of its seven #noms into #dullspeeches, we will be bashed over the head by how successful it was. And why wouldn't it try to cave our skulls in with its victories?
Like every delicious American creation, the ingredients (unlike my quinoa salad) are fabulously rich, with an ensemble cast that includes a (genuinely and marvellously) overweight and (artificially) balding Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Rises), a voluptuous Amy Adams (Man of Steel), an alluring Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), a wide-lapelled Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) and a curly-headed Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook). There is even a cameo role for a hyper-famous actor who doesn't even make it onto the movie poster.
These flavourful, sugary and buttery actors are rustled into Hustle by director David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook; The Fighter) to create an enthusiastic story about a 1970s FBI sting operation on corrupt politicians that claims to be at least partially true. Cooper plays the dastardly FBI agent who blackmails two small time, in-love hustlers (Bale & Adams) into taking down some elderly politicos, in order for them to avoid jail themselves. Of course, they resist initially, but they get persuaded to do it and blah blah blah - the hi-jinx (and romantic complications) can begin. Ominous obstacles and ticklish twists abound, but don't hold your breath for a huge climax. Remember, this conman's tale is only partly based on real-life; so arguably it is neither so true that "you couldn't make this stuff up" nor so made up that "there's no way that would happen". It is gently fictional and mildly realistic, in equal measure.
"But why would anybody #nom that?! It sounds kind of boring, like quinoa." I hear you cry. Well, as we know from Jamie Oliver, even simple recipes can be proper pucker if made from the best ingredients (and loads and loads of olive oil, innit). In spite of a storyline that at times swings like 70s hips from passive to predictable and linear to lacklustre, the lustrous hairdos alone on the heads of these fine actors somehow just about make up for it. Even the risk-ridden attempt of the film to tiptoe the tightrope between humour and drama is somehow salvaged - when the story slips and the tightrope goes straight up between its legs, the audience is left confused and wondering whether to laugh or cry; but it will at least elicit some kind of garbled emotional response. Equally, while none of the characters are truly likeable, together they nonetheless create something that is sort of watchable. In particular, the 23-year old Jennifer Lawrence cements her claim to being Hollywood's finest young actor with an insatiably sizzling turn as con-man Bale's young, sharp-talking and unpredictable wife.
"But why would anybody #nom that?! It sounds kind of boring, like quinoa." I hear you cry. Well, as we know from Jamie Oliver, even simple recipes can be proper pucker if made from the best ingredients (and loads and loads of olive oil, innit). In spite of a storyline that at times swings like 70s hips from passive to predictable and linear to lacklustre, the lustrous hairdos alone on the heads of these fine actors somehow just about make up for it. Even the risk-ridden attempt of the film to tiptoe the tightrope between humour and drama is somehow salvaged - when the story slips and the tightrope goes straight up between its legs, the audience is left confused and wondering whether to laugh or cry; but it will at least elicit some kind of garbled emotional response. Equally, while none of the characters are truly likeable, together they nonetheless create something that is sort of watchable. In particular, the 23-year old Jennifer Lawrence cements her claim to being Hollywood's finest young actor with an insatiably sizzling turn as con-man Bale's young, sharp-talking and unpredictable wife.
Overall, American Hustle is certainly a rather flawed film, and you won't be thinking too hard about it after you leave the cinema. Is it deserving of a best picture (musical or comedy) Golden Globe, even if it is arguably neither a musical nor a comedy? Should it really be a "best picture" Oscar contender? Sincerely, no - it is nowhere near good enough for that. But if you sit back, relax and let it con you into enjoying it, does it really matter if that enjoyment was a little lightweight?
So go. You might have bought a fugesi, but with American Hustle, you'll get over the fact you did...Unless it wins the Oscar, and then you'll probably be pretty annoyed that even the experts couldn't spot the fake.
*Amy Adams - Best actress (comedy or musical), Jennifer Lawrence – Best supporting actress, Best film (comedy or musical)
So go. You might have bought a fugesi, but with American Hustle, you'll get over the fact you did...Unless it wins the Oscar, and then you'll probably be pretty annoyed that even the experts couldn't spot the fake.
*Amy Adams - Best actress (comedy or musical), Jennifer Lawrence – Best supporting actress, Best film (comedy or musical)
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