Up for 10 nominations, including Best picture, director, actor, actress, (and possibly Best Combover), American Hustle takes place in 1978. A couple of two- bit scammers, played by Christian Bale and Amy Adams, are forced by ambitious FBI agent Bradley Cooper to help him catch bigger fish, like Mayor of Atlantic City, Hawkeye! (You know, the guy from Avengers.) The stellar cast is rounded out by Jennifer Lawrence as Christian Bale’s unpredictable wife.
JACKIE O’S REVIEW
This movie was tough to review. Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner really stood out for me. Renner spoke to me as a mayor trying to do everything possible for his people. I would not be surprised if they both went home with Oscar gold! With this director and this cast this movie SHOULD have been much better than it was. A lot of the dialogue was ad-libbed and I think that made the story run too long. It was an enjoyable experience but one I will probably forget in 3 months. I am going to give it 3 out of 5 reels.
STAN THE MAN’S REVIEW:
The seventies vibe was right on the mark, including the opening logos in the credits. Also, seeing Louis CK in the movie was a big bonus. But the best part for me was Amy Adams’ performance. It was complex and subtle every moment. Christian Bale’s physical transformation was a distraction for me. In Raging Bull, Castaway, Courage Under Fire, there’s reason for it. Here it just seemed like a stunt. If you want that guy as the character, just hire Paul Giamatti. Heck, I gained forty pounds for this show and nobody nominated me for anything. I give it 2.5 reels, mostly for Amy Adams, negative points for the Christian Bale stunt.
AVERAGE REEL GUYS RATING: 2.75 (out of 5)
Next week, we’ll continue our Oscar countdown with a heavy review of Gravity! ‘Til then, we’re the Reel Guys wishing you peace, love and Popcorn!
