“American Hustle” is based on a true
story, as it pays tribute to the FBI ABSCAM Operation. With its opening statement, unusual yet
immediately gripping, we clearly see how the public’s trust in the government has
decreased, considering the Watergate Scandal that happened a few years prior. The ABSCAM operation was based in Long Island,
and it originally targeted trafficking stolen property. However, it evolved into a public corruption
investigation.
The political figures involved in
this scheme included a US Senator, six members of the House of Representatives,
a New Jersey senator, members of the Philadelphia City Council, the mayor of
Camden, New Jersey, and an inspector for the Immigration and Naturalization
Service. The codename “ABSCAM” is
actually short for Arab Scam, or Abdul Scam, the name of its fictitious front
company.
David O’Russell chose to take the
story and fictionalize it rather than making a straight-forward
adaptation. This was an attempt to glamorize
the climax of the scheming, as per usual of Hollywood’s artistic
licensing. The names have been changed,
but the story is pretty close to reality.
In the
late 1970’s and early 1980’s, an FBI agent, Richard DiMasio (Bradley Cooper)
coerces Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) and Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) to tee
up and execute an elaborate plan to expose corrupt politicians. To get things
going, Irving convinces one of his close friends to charade as an Arab Sheik
looking for investments in American from politicians.
Irving and Sidney manage to con many
powerful figures to get what they want, from transferring millions of dollars
into a fake account to scamming one Irving’s close friends, the mayor of
Camden, New Jersey (Jeremy Renner). The
amount of hustling and smooth-talking throughout this film is wild, as the
elaborate scheming intertwines with the onscreen chemistry between members of
the star-studded cast.
It’s no mystery why Christian Bale
has been nominated for yet another Golden Globe, this time for his performance
in “American Hustle.” I’m not sure which
has more personality, his character Irving Rosenfeld, or the elaborate combover
he styles in the film’s opening scene.
His charismatic air can sell ice to an eskimo, as I can’t imagine anyone
more fit for the role. Bale can take any
role on, and thoroughly exhaust it to the point where we really forget who
Christian Bale is.
Once more, Christian Bale prepared for his
well in a hard core fashion. This time
around, he gained forty pounds and got a combover. Bale went great lengths and slouched his
posture so much for his character that he herniated two of his disks in the
process. His transformation is in fact so impressive
that Robert DeNiro (who makes an appearance in this film!) didn’t even
recognize him after being introduced to him onset.
Per usual, Amy Adams delivers an excellent
performance. She and Bale have returned
to work together under O’Russell after appearing in his 2010 film “The Fighter.” Their excellent performance together
contributes to “American Hustle’s” box-office success. She too has received a Golden Globe
nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.
Bradley Cooper reunites with O’Russell as
well reunites with director David O’Russell after being in his 2012 film “Silver
Linings Playbook,” and has racked up yet another Golden Globe nomination under
his direction. The same goes for
Jennifer Lawrence, who played Rosenfeld’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn. Cooper really got into his role as DiMasio as
he permed his hair for the occasion, and wore hair curlers in a couple of
scenes.
The costuming, hair and make-up for this film
are anachronism free. It even uses the 1970's Columbia Motion Pictures logo at the film's opening. Though outrageous
at points, the clothes and styles of the time period fit in perfectly for the
late1970’s. From Adams and Cooper’s
curled hair to Bale’s intense combover, we see the time period unfold before
our eyes. Even Renner fashions a
pompadour that would impress Conan O’Brien.
The soundtrack was fantastic as well. It effectively fits the mood. Artists featured on it include Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Elton John and the Temptations. Just to name a few of the incredible musicians featured in the film.
Originally, “American Hustle” was
titled as “American Bullshit,” and that script was written in 2010. It was on the Hollywood Blacklist, until resurrected
and rewritten. After seeing it, I can
only imagine what the original script called for, considering this one was
written with so much eloquence and panache.
O’Russell had the actors and actresses that appear in this film in mind
as he took on the script.
The spontaneity of the scenes unfolding feel
so real, and audiences can relate to the characters, no matter how much or how
little. For example, the argument scenes
between Lawrence and Bale are improvised, as the actors were more capable to
connect to the action without the limitations of a script.
Things come very naturally to the screen, as
a good portion of the dialogue is improvised.
This is no surprise, as the cast is brilliant, but the plot becomes
difficult to follow at points. Christian
Bale even noted how this would effect the plot and could potentially destroy
the film overall. O’Russell responded
with confidence “I hate plots. I am all
about characters, that’s it.” This is no
shock, as the characters in this film have such strong screen presence, you
cannot help but to love every single one despite their tragic flaws. They truly make up for what confusion
audiences may be in.
With the above listed Golden Globe
nominations along with that of Best Director (David O’Russell), Best Motion Picture
(Musical or Comedy) and Best Screenplay (Eric Warren Singer and O’Russell), “American
Hustle” is definitely worth checking out.
The styilistic aspects and execution of the story told wouldn’t have
been as effective if it wasn’t for the efforts of O’Russell and everyone
involved in “American Hustle.”
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