Film review - American Hustle

(l to r) Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence

American Hustle is an American film spanning the crime, comedy-drama genres directed by David O Russell with an engaging storyline, well positioned period settings/wardrobes and an expert ensemble cast including Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence with a short appearance by Robert de Niro. There are few surprises in most of the storyline structure however there are a couple of twists which are not obvious and provide much needed surprises. It is a well executed film with high production values and accordingly has garnered a series of film industry awards. Interestingly David O Russell also directed Silver Linings Playbook which also starred Cooper and Lawrence.

The film plot follows two con artists Irving (Christian Bale) and Sydney (Amy Adams) who are caught in a sting operation by FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso forces the two con artists to help him set up another more elaborate sting operation to snare corrupt politicians and correspondingly enhance his career prospects. One of the targets is the Mayor of Camden, New Jersey (Jeremy Renner). DiMaso promises Irving and Sydney that if they can help him achieve four additional arrests he will release them.  Irving's erratic wife (Jennifer Lawrence) introduces an unstable and unpredictable element to the operation being unaware of its true intent and a tendency to say whatever she thinks at any given moment.

Christian Bale is unrecognisable as Irving and delivers a convincing performance with strong support from Amy Adams as his partner in crime. American Hustle is a competent professional film and well worth the price of a cinema ticket.