David O. Russell rejoins with his star team from Silver Lining's Playbook to make some movie magic - Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Al Pacino. This time around the main stars of this epic, intricately spun and gripping crime-comedy-drama are the always impressive Christian Bale and the much lauded, but never-fully-appreciated-in-my-eyes-until-right-this-very-moment, Amy Adams.
This movie is somewhat of an ode to the 70's, the fashion, the music, the movies, the days when men were cards and the women (and this is the huge surprise for me, even Amy Adams) were scintillatingly hot.
There is going to be quite a bit about Amy Adams in the post I think, not since her small town, extremely plain Jane performance in the art that was Junebug, has she made me want more of a character she has brought to life - I think that until now she has always resided in that dark space that was the incredibly light, fluffy and insipidly stupid Enchanted.
I must admit that at the start I was a little worried that I was going to be entering a world of unachieved Tarantino brilliance, the beginning just has that vibe, this all changes pretty damn quickly as the movie redirects into an O. Russell-ed space and territory completely it's own. If the reports are to be believed, the director cleverly allowed artistic freedom in script deviation for the actors', and it was a wise move. You will laugh and be riveted as you go on a journey of two con-artists forced into a sting operation with a loose cannon of an FBI agent, which is loosely based on a real operation from the late 70'/early 80's era.
Can we all give a hell yeah to fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg, who changed the fashion of the era and now some 30+ years later, is revitalised in the sheer hotness that is the almost remarkably unrecognisable (and it's not trickery, it's sheer acting chops) Amy Adams in the role of breasty Sydney Prosser / Lady Edith Greensly. On the sheer opposite side of the spectrum is the unrecognisable method actor-induced, slovenly, overweight, schlubiness that is Christian Bale's Irving Rosenfeld - they play the two con-artists in the unenviable position of being FBI bait to Bradley Cooper's somewhat creepy, out-of-his-depth, proverbial guns blazing FBI Agent Richard "Richie" DiMaso. For me, there were some doubts midstream about the casting of what felt like the too young Jennifer Lawrence in the role of Irving's tart of a wife, Rosalyn Rosenfeld, but she surprises as she is able to reign it all in and then deliver a spectacularly befitting performance (in fact I think I preferred this performance to her Oscar winning role in her previous David O. Russell outing).
There are more great performances in this movie to take home, all integral to the successful execution of the piece and this again speaks to the trust David O. Reilly has in his actors and the sheer brilliance of the casting of the movie - Louis C.K., Jeremy Renner and Robert De Niro (for a single scene) all deserving mention.
Fucking Enjoy!!!
This is the first Oscar Nominated movie since I started this blog (and the mission thereof) that has nominations in all 6 of the categories I am making a point of watching - all four of the main stars earning there nominations, the director and the movie (and when I do make the decision, even the screenplay) - and right now, I will stand proud and say Amy Adams over Cate Blanchett 120%!!!
Personal Kudos to myself for making some great headway in watching the movies from the 86th Academy Awards - nearly there. American Hustle is now the 36th Academy Award nominated movie watched since I started this blog.
nuff said...
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