That’s my favorite line from my favorite film of 2013, American Hustle. It’s one of those rare 2+ hour films that felt as if it ended in the blink of an eye, and left you wanting more, which is one of the biggest compliments I can pay any movie. Writer-Director David O. Russell has been on a roll of late with The Fighter andSilver Linings Playbook butAmerican Hustle is the best of the bunch and that’s saying a helluva lot, y’all.
In addition to the Abscamtastic plot, likeable characters, and witty dialogue, American Hustle has got big hair. Really big hair. From Christian Bale’s elaborate combover to Amy Adams’ perm to Jeremy Renner’s pompadour the hairdos are spectacular. I also love Renner’s character who is a semi-fictionalized version of former Jersey pol Carmine Polito.American Hustle has the guts to present a politician who’s on the take to help his constituents. That’s a classic form of corruption here in the Gret Stet of Louisiana. The so-called reformers and goo-goos (i.e. Buddy Roemer and PBJ) never do anything for the people whereas rogues like the Longs and Edwin Edwards did a lot of good things in between feeding at the troth. The fake Carmine Polito is in that tradition whereas the Bradley Cooper FBI agent character is a careerist fuck. So it goes.
I *adored* American Hustle and have a feeling that I’ll be seeing it many times over the years. What’s not to love about a movie with Jennifer Lawrence as a character that would have been played by Judy Holliday in the 1950’s? Great stuff. I give it 4 stars, an A+ and remind you to use your science oven carefully…
Update: My friend Luke Gordon pointed out in a comment that Renner’s character is based on a Joisey pol named Angelo Errichetti. I like the name Polito better for a pol…