There
is
a
line
in
the
film
that
goes:
"People
believe
what
they
want
to
believe.
This
is
the
way
the
world
works.
No
black
and
white,
always
grey." How
profound
and
true!
And
by
the
end
of
the
film,
one
recalls
the
very
first
frame
that
stated,
"Some
of
this
actually
happened" in
bold
letters,
a
declaration
that
feels
calculated
to
make
the
audience
believe
so.
Filled
with
outrageously
loud
grey
characters,
American
Hustle
is
about
a
highly
charged
FBI
agent
who
blackmails
a
small-time
fraudster
and
his
mistress
into
helping
him
ferret
out
corrupt
politicians
from
the
system.
It
is
loosely
based
on
the
Abscam
that
shook
America
in
1978.
The
film
tracks
the
scandal
through
the
point
of
view
of
Irving
Rosenfeld
and
his
mistress
and
partner
in
"love
and
commerce"
Sydney
Prosser
through
jigsaw
flash
cut
edits
with
zoom
effects
and
numerous
he-said-she-said
voiceovers.
The
politician
is
Carmine
Polito,
the
mayor
of
Camden,
New
Jersey,
who
loves
his
city,
its
people
and
is
willing
to
go
over
the
edge
to
see
his
city
flourish.
The
spoke
in
Irving's
life
is
his
overtly
anxious
wife
Rosalyn,
who
constantly
sets
fire
in
the
kitchen
and
Richie
DiMaso,
the
passionately
enthusiastic
FBI
agent
who
corners
him
and
Sydney
into
aiding
him
arraign
a
few
cases
of
political
corruption.
What
starts
off
as
a
small
sting
operation
to
snitch,
soon
becomes
an
elaborate
scheme.
The
plan
blows
out
of
proportion,
as
the
targets
become
Congressmen
and
Mafioso,
due
to
Richie's
greed,
impatience
and
weakness
"to
con
the
Mayor
to
build
Atlantic
City".
And
soon,
the
scurry
to
outdo
the
other
in
order
to
survive
forms
the
crux
of
the
narration.
But
it
is
the
constant
niggling
and
doubting
the
intention
of
the
characters
that
keep
the
audience
hooked.
Performance
The
performance
from
every
cast
member
is
outstanding.
Christian
Bale
as
the
flabby
Irving
Rosenfeld
leads
the
team.
He
dwells
in
that
grey
space
of
trust
and
uncertainty,
with
buoyant
confidence
that
makes
you
believe
in
his
honesty,
as
well
as
his
ploys.
Bradley
Cooper
as
the
hot-headed
Agent
Richie,
Jeremy
Renner
as
Mayor
Carmine
and
Amy
Adams
as
Sydney
Prosser,
a
lady
from
Albuquerque
with
"nothing
to
lose"
along
with
her
alter-ego
Lady
Edith
-
the
well-connected
socialite
-
are
very
impressive.
So
is
Robert
DeNiro
as
the
bald
Victor
Tellegio
in
a
cameo.
But
it
is
Jennifer
Lawrence
as
the
disgruntled
Rosalyn,
loud
and
obviously
intended
as
the
comedic
relief,
who
steals
the
show.
She
lights
the
screen
as
she
executes
the
madness
and
unpredictability
of
her
character
with
great
ease.
The
credit
for
the
brilliant
performance
definitely
goes
to
the
well-crafted
and
occasionally
funny
script
written
by
Russell
and
Eric
Singer.
The
over-the-top
characters
along
with
their
spontaneous
dialogues
that
are
carefully
layered
with
pop
songs
exude
a
subtle
intelligent
brilliance
of
the
1970s
era.
After
delivering
excellent
films
like
The
Fighter
and
Silver
Linings
PlayBook,
Russell
does
not
disappoint
you
with
American
Hustle.
Despite
its
flaws
and
lack
in
drive,
it
makes-up
with
style
and
excellence.
It
is
an
ideal
intriguing
period
crime
film
laced
with
comedy.
Cast:
Christian
Bale,
Bradley
Cooper,
Amy
Adams,
Jeremy
Renner,
Jennifer
Lawrence,
Louis
C.K.,
Jack
Huston,
Michael
Pena,
Elisabeth
Rohm
Director:
David
O.
Russell
IANS