With an all star cast, a great script, and a good story, American Hustle hit the big screen just before Christmas. Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and Bradley Cooper launched a film that put faces on an old story from the 70's. Based on a book by a participant, Irving Rosenfeld, the story comes from a scam created by some enterprising New Yorkers who saw possibilities relating to our renewed interests in things Middle East and things Arabic(Oil). A small time seller of art fakes gets caught by the FBI. He, in turn, gets involved in a sting with the FBI attempting to round up some politicians, both local and national. Atlantic City is their scene and dreams of casino jobs and dollars provides the fuel for all involved.
The film is crafted around the personalities of key players: FBI agents, Congressmen, prosecutors, housewives, local politicians( the mayor of Newark, New Jersey plays a key role), mafia money(Robert DiNiro has a fine cameo role as money man), and a charlatan oil sheik(really a Latino man with limited Arabic language skills).
The director, David O. Russell, (Silver Linings Playbook) does a fine job, presenting a period story from recent memory that resonates across a broad spectrum of interests. The actors do fine work in their respective roles(see above). Editing is an area of some discussion as the story line hops back and forth as developments occur among the participants. It can be more than a little confusing. All in all, great entertainment(hence, the December holiday roll out).
Rating: ****1/2stars.
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