My 2014 Oscar movie road ended with a viewing of American Hustle—one of the movies I had so anticipated all year after seeing the first trailer that was merely a stream of scenes woven together to the tunes of fantastic music. The names promised a great movie. And the actors behind those names did not disappoint.
This cast of American Hustle more than won its Best Cast Ensemble award (in whatever award hands out that one); the performances here are fantastic. I had seen few glimpses of Jennifer Lawrence’s character on a trailer, but from that, I couldn’t understand how she had done enough to warrant her Best Supporting nomination. She did that and more. Add Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, and Jeremy Renner (in a role *so* very different from my memory of him in The Hurt Locker), and you’ve a blend of such great talent, I wonder if the performances almost (almost) are all so strong as to reduce the effect of any one on its own. (As a bonus for me, Louis C.K. appears; although not at his best, my crush continues.)
The soundtrack also lived up to its promise from the trailer. Great song after great song play in snips and pieces, carrying the mood of the film fabulously.
(The costuming is fantastic as well; this was almost a movie that could have been called “Amy Adams’s Hair” (and how her shirts never fell open). (Missing, though, were shoes of the time.) (Of course, like other movies, the small mistakes tug at my sleeve while I’m watching much like a pestering youngster interrupting an otherwise riveting conversation: I just do not recall velvet hot rollers of that style being out at that time.))
The story itself, while loosely based on a true scandal, is real enough in its underlying theme of frauds and scams. As off-putting as those who take advantage of others are (then again, it’s *almost* hard to feel bad for people who believe they will give someone $5,000 and get $50,000 in return), the movie delivers that side in such an engaging and entertaining—and 70s flashy—manner that I almost forgot to not like the characters for who they are. Almost.
Hmm. And there you go: the only actually likeable character was played by Louis C.K. The crush continues. ; )