Dare I suggest that America’s current sweetheart Jennifer Lawrence—takes it to the next level in AMERICAN HUSTLE?
Her portrayal of frustrated housewife Rosalyn Rosenfeld has earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination in the current Golden Globes race. Come to think of it AMERICAN HUSTLE has already picked up a total of SEVEN Golden Globe nominations!
So what are you in for?
A 2 hour and 18 minutes long dark comedy that’s nothing short of terrific.
Prior to the first scene moviegoers are informed via an on-screen billboard that, “Some of this actually happened.”
That’s followed by an extended scene of a slightly overweight Christian Bale working on his bad 70’s comb over while gluing down patches of hair to his skull.
It pretty well sets the mood for what’s to follow.
The movie reteams SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK director David O. Russell with Bradley Cooper and Lawrence, then surrounds them with the likes of Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Louis C.K.
Bale plays con-man Irving Rosenfeld, the central figure tapped by the F.B.I. to assist them in exposing some major illegal activities by New Jersey politicians.
It was the infamous Abscam scandal that pre-dated the redevelopment of Atlantic City complete with unsuspecting set-ups, infidelity, bribes, corruption—and a fictional sheik.
One comical disaster after another unfolds throughout the movie with each character stealing their respective scenes.
“The art of survival is a story that never ends.”
Add a well selected 70’s soundtrack to Danny Elfman‘s cool score and you’re in for a quite delicious treat in cinematic storytelling.
And just for the record, Amy Adams adds a new dimension of hotness to her portfolio.
She plays a former knockout stripper named Sydney who prefers to pass herself off as an uppercrust Brit named Lady Edith. Her dress leaving very little to the imagination.
Hell, I’m still imagining.
And about those seven Golden Globe nominations for the film…
* BEST PICTURE (Comedy or Musical)
* BEST ACTOR (Comedy or Musical)—Christian Bale
* BEST ACTRESS (Comedy or Musical)—Amy Adams
* BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Comedy or Musical)—Bradley Cooper
* BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Comedy or Musical)—Jennifer Lawrence
* BEST DIRECTOR—David O. Russell
* BEST SCREENPLAY
There’s nothing more for me to add except to grade AMERICAN HUSTLE a B+
(Reviewed at AMC Ward Parkway)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings on NewsRadio KMBZ-98.1 FM
okay, jack, here you go again, giving effusive praise for the flick, then giving it something less than an A without mentioning why. why?
Ooops…that previous comment was actually meant for mike t.
Sorry about that.
As to ‘guy who says what others think, Jennifer Lawrence does not have a starring role in the movie but steals every scene in which she appears.
(…not sure whether that’s the exposure you had in mind though.)
fell in love with Jennifer Lawrence when I saw “Winter’s Bone”. Outstanding movie. If you haven’t seen it, watch it.
Please tell me that Jennifer Lawrence gets plenty of exposure in the film.
A good Wendy’s burger doesn’t necessarily make at an A either.
I go more for the all around package when rating a film.
But that’s just me.
Go see the movie. then tell me why I stuck a B+ on it……
it’s definitely on the list. looks like a good film.
Jack you are the best. Right on. Odd how we have a new landscape of A actors now grouped taking it from Bobby D, Al Pacino, Julia Roberts, so on…now its Amy, Christain, Mathew M, Jeremy, and the new guys with Woody as the constant co star…the new Hollywood A team and this film has almost all of them.
thanks Craig. ….and just wait til you see “THE WOLF OF WALL STREET”. It’s about as good as it gets. Three hours long yet it held me glued to the screen.
So you are saying Bale’s character was inspired by none other than KC’s King of Stank?