Major Actors: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Robert Deniro
Rating: R
Best Audience: Adults only
Review:
American Hustle is loosely based on a true story. The story focuses on a con man and his mistress, who are blackmailed by an FBI agent to assist in an operation to bring down politicians and congressmen.
The thing I like about this story is how morally ambiguous it is. The FBI is trying to entrap congressmen into accepting bribes in order to make some high profile arrests. The congressmen are doing what they have to do in order to bring opportunity to their communities. The FBI is using con-men in order to trick them into committing crimes.
At many times throughout this movie, you will be confused about who is conning whom...and that is one of the great things about this film. No one in this film is really "likeable." You may like the characters at one point, then absolutely can't stand them at another point. But that is reality. No one is all good or all bad. We are all capable of both. This movie truly does capture the truth about humanity. Of course, Jennifer Lawrence possesses the power to steal the scene and she does, despite having a smaller role. David O. Russell, who gave us "Silver Linings Playbook" directed this movie as well.
But even a casual movie-goer can still enjoy this film. There is plenty of fighting, sex, and drama to entertain while the story provides some interesting observations about humanity.
