**/*** (2.5 stars)
DVD Release
In 1970s America, Irving Rosenfeld makes a living as a successful con man. When he meets Sydney Prosser, the pair decide to branch further afield into the world of conning, eventually falling under the eye of the law. To escape prosecution, they must help a young, hot-headed FBI agent to expose the rampant political corruption in the area.
I find it hard to comprehend why this film was ever nominated for such an abundance of awards - it was even in the 'Best Film' category! 'American Hustle' isn't engaging, it is wholly unoriginal, and the majority of the characters are wholly unlikeable. It also goes on and on... and on and on! The film is full of glaring inconsistencies that I just couldn't move past: sometimes there is a narrative voice-over, sometimes not; whilst at other times the camera flicked from the face of the person speaking to their hands and then back again, which I found incredibly frustrating. The opening scene consists of Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) creating an elaborate comb-over from very little hair, before then moving into a jumbled failed con - the opening scene of a film is meant to grip and intrigue us, but for me it just set the scene for what would be a very long film about not a whole lot, with characters I didn't like or connect with. It was incredibly disappointing because some of my friends had really raved about the film, saying it was hilarious and really engaging, but from the very start I knew it would be a long haul.
The film boasts a wealth of A-List stars who are all perfectly fine in their respective roles. Christian Bale is great as the apparently world-weary Irving Rosenfeld, whilst Jennifer Lawrence gives the stand out performance of the film as his young, hysterical young wife. Lawrence proves her versatility as an actress with some outstanding comic timing alongside scenes filled with deep emotion (hers were the only scenes I found remotely interesting). She also looks fantastic in the 70s attire. Indeed, the costumes, hair and set design at the most noteworthy aspects of the film as the rest is rather bland and uninteresting. Bale and Cooper sport a pair of amazing wigs, whilst the designers have clearly let loose all their creative energies to create some of the most hysterically tasteless outfits ever seen. The soundtrack is also pretty good, featuring some of the best songs from the period, but whilst the film looks pretty and shiny and is occasionally pleasing to the ear, it is wholly empty and devoid of any spark. I suppose I was essentially bored by it, which is the greatest criticism of all.
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