Review of American Hustle (2013) by Alec L — 23 Dec 2015
Stylish but ultimately soulish, funny but incredibly forgettable, American Hustle is one of those movies that is very good and all. There's nothing really to say. Everybody has acted better, though David O Russell has never directed better, both Silver Linings and The Fighter have more heart, and more reason to be.
An exploration of institutional corruption during the era of institutional corruption, we commiserate with thieves and sympathise with criminals. If you want a movie that will take up two hours of your day and not make you feel bad about it, then American Hustle is for you.
Wonderful costume design, but this is the 1970s, so how hard can that be, especially when everybody looks like a character? They all act like characters too, and for all Russell's whips and turns and pulls with the camera, nothing is lost or earned at all.
In a way, American Hustle is the worst type of film and sadly the typical Russell film: you can't help asking just why it matters at all?
This review of American Hustle (2013) was written by Alec L on 23 Dec 2015.
American Hustle has generally received very positive reviews.
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