American Hustle (2013)

So, RKZ and I don't get to the movies very often, but when we do, we often have to compromise a little as to who gets to choose the film. When we first saw the ads for this movie, we knew we'd found one that we both wanted to see. Who doesn't love a 70's period piece staring Jennifer Lawrence? And the trailers looked funny. So, a few weeks ago we shelled out a small fortune for a sitter and went to see American Hustle.

Quick recap of the movie: A con-man meets his romantic and "professional" match in a con-woman and they begin the happy life of running scams (with some twists). An over-eager FBI agent then busts them so that they become part of his crazy scheme of bringing down dishonest government employees. It's honestly not a very complicated plot but made for some good situations along the way. 

Why is this movie getting Oscar nominations? The acting was awesome. Honestly, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper were amazing. I tend to rate actors by how much I forget who they are as private people and fall into the character they are playing. It might have been the hair, but it would have been hard to imaging Christian Bale or Cooper as anyone other than their characters while watching the movie. And I was very struck by Amy Adams' character and how subtly Adams played her. 

But no lie, Adams' breasts could have been nominated for best supporting actress because her character wore nothing but plunging necklines: 

Still, the movie was rated-R, so whatever, but I don't think I've ever noticed costume choices that much. 

The only bummer with the movie for me was that the first 1/2 of the movie was so fun - engaging, clever and just what I'd hoped for. But, I guess I wanted the second 1/2 to be a bit more of a Robin Hood story where everything worked out well for our heroes. I won't spoil it, but RKZ and I both found it a bit anticlimactic and were hoping for a "bigger" ending. 

I would probably rent this movie in a year or two from now but I don't think I'd go see it again. But I will continue to love Adams - and Lawrence - who I'm not totally sure isn't just playing her own wacky self over and over again in all of these films (but that's a personal opinion and she's still a cutey).