American Hustle [DVD] [2013]

Brilliant cast, design and plot.

It takes time to get around to watching DVDs I have no doubt this one will be good

America is as America does. Watching this was like a cross between Starsky and Hutch, LA Confidential and Goodfellas all rolled into one crazy movie, with a top soundtrack to boot. The look, style and feel of this movie alone is enough to suck you in and drag you by the hair through a hedge backwards. The comb over, perm and Elvis look are goofy too. It really is that crazy. But it's just so American it hurts. Sleazy, tacky, egotistical, narcissistic and totally manic.But at the end of the day this is a comedy. There are 'drama' elements, but they take a back seat. American Hustle shouldn't be taken 'seriously', in the truest sense of the word. This is just a blast. We need to constantly realize what we are witnessing: Everything that is truly great, but screwed up about America. The land of the free gets taken for a ride by a duplicitous con man, who actually comes across as a deadpan but seemingly well intended, plausible character on the surface....Jennifer Lawrence tops the charts as the dizzy blonde, semi-neurotic, trailer trash, bitter and embattled younger housewife with a deranged kid, whose been ensnared by (the same) over-weight, heart condition I need my pills, con man of a so called husband, one marvelous Christian Bale. Who must have put on at least three stone or more to play the part.Then we have the smart, savvy, but equally duplicitous lush puppy, butter wouldn't melt, how can you not love me, Amy Adams, Bale's real partner in slime, I mean crime. While they are art wheeling and dealing and making a fortune they are caught by FBI agent in charge, the hilarious Brad Cooper, with his perm, who tries to use them to catch the alleged real criminals - the scheming public officials who have been paid off by mafia. A mysterious sheikh is employed too, to try and catch them all at it. Everyone in the movie seems corrupt in some way. Everyone has an ulterior motive, everyone wants to use everyone else, everyone wants to manipulate everyone else. Who really is the bad guy?Underneath all the craziness and shenanigans there is actually a story and a plot going on (70s FBI 2 year ABSCAM sting operation). But the plot of the movie seems almost irrelevant to mention, because that's not what we're really watching for. In comes Jerry Renner who plays the Mayor with umpteen kids, who is all family on the outside, but just as corrupt on the inside. It trips over itself in one crazy scene to the next you're left dangling as to who is really trying to con who. But Jennifer Lawrence doing Wing's 'Live and Let die' is right up there... We also get to see the legendary Robert De Niro in a non-credited cameo as mafia's second in command, thrown in for good measure...You have to understand the mentality of the movie to appreciate it, I can't believe so many on here gave it 1 star, they weren't paying attention, they didn't do their homework and they didn't realize what they were witnessing. Shame on them. Hustle indeed.

Good story line with convincing acting and great music

Simply the film lacks intensity. This can be contributed most probably to the fact it is not a true story and therefore fails to fully engage you or care for the characters. The first 45 minutes of the film develops the characters brilliantly, however with it's use of voice overs you can't help but draw comparatives to similar movies mainly Scorsese's Trilogy of greed (Goodfellas, Casino and less notably Wolf of Wall Street). The film is nowhere near the level of Scorsese's movies, which isn't a bad thing (I mean what film is?), the problem is it tries to play in the same league when it is nowhere near. The overall story is weak, it takes well over 2 hours to tell the ficticous tale which is a fairly paint by numbers affair. There are no twists and turns here and everything is quite predictable - which is a shame considering the film title.One positive from the film is DeNiro making an appearance half way through, I feel his character was ridiculously underused. His character could have brought more threat to the plot which was sorely lacking.I feel the film has most likely won over critics and attained much kudos for the cast - who are excellent. Bale and co take what would have been a budget bargain bucket release and turn it into something more credible. All performances across the board are superb.Unsurpisingly you are reminded of previous films by the same director, particularly the Fighter - and again as was the case with that film what you are watching is a tour de force in acting and performance - but this doesn't completely save what is a forgettable movie.

I loved this movie. The characters are such fun and I would say its got a sort of 'Trainspotting' construction with the story weaving with a constantly moving view point. Don't think it falls into the trap of being too clever. For me its exciting, slightly surreal and doesn't take itself too seriously. Don't feel its overly predictable and it takes us into a bizarre world of smoke and mirrors. I like the pacing and the, at times, helter-skelter feel and I also think we've got some fun and believable characters. I also liked the look/ production and the editing camerawork.

I found this really amusing in places, as the lead character seems to hustle in a completely carefree way,even when dealing with high up gangsters in the mafia, it's one of those biopic type films,that tells the true story of some down and out hustlers who are trying to make lots of moneyby illegitimate means, (hence the title)... At a time where it seemed much more possible to get away with it,They are brave,people to do what they do, but if they don't pull off there schemes, it would definitely not,be worth the risk...

Great entertainment. This is film that walks a little way behind films such as 'Casino' and 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'. It is not quite as good, or have the as clever a story line, as either and doesn't have the disturbing but essential while compelling violence as the the first or engrossing over the top style of the latter but it does contain the remarkable screen presence of all the main players including just the right percentage of OTT characterisation to make viewing compulsive. It is also a tale which keeps you guessing about who is fooling who and who is going to come out of this worse.The story keeps the viewers interest for 2hrs and 15 minutes but the film is made by the superb performances and the recaptured 70s, sexy, style and a story that make it recommended viewing.

Reçu en bonne condition et livraison rapide

vendu en France mais lisible pour les zones étrangères donc illisible en France, donc impossible à lire sur un lecteur de notre zone...!!

Oscars nominated movie

David O. Russell wurde bekannt durch "Three Kings", einem eher ungewöhnlichen Beitrag über den zweiten Golfkrieg. Mit "The Fighter" und "Silver Linings" wurde er sogar zu einem der Lieblinge der Academy Awards, für beide Filme wurde er mit einer Nominierung als bester Regisseur belohnt. "American Hustle" komplettiert nun diese Ehrung im Trio. Er war sogar mit 10 Nominierugen neben "Gravity" der diesjährige Rekordhalter - allerdings konnte er am Ende keinen einzigen Preis entgegennehmen. Somit darf sich der Film über Trickbetrüger in den 70er Jahren zu anderen großen Academy Verlierern wie "Der Elefantenmensch", "Geschichte einerr Nonne", "Anatomie eines Mordes", "Kanonenboot am YanktseeKiang", "Ragtime" , "Die kleinen Füchse", "True Grit", "Gangs of New York", "Die Farbe Lila"oder "Am Wendepunkt" zählen. Und wie alle diese genannten Filme ist "American Hustle" zweifelsohne schon jetzt ein kleiner Klassiker.Als erstes sieht der Zuschauer einen merklich veränderten Christian Bale mit ziemlich voluminösem Bauch und einer Halbglatze, die er mit brauner Watte unterfütterten Haarfransen aufpeppt, indem er diese aufwändig feststeckt und -klebt. Der Mann heißt Irving Rosenberg und betreibt eine Kette von einigermassen erfolgreichen Waschsalons. Das richtige Geld verdient er alledings mit Trickbetrug und kriminellen Kreditgeschäften. Ihm zur Seite steht seine hübsche Geliebte Sydney (Amy Adams), die sich für die dubiosen Tricks als reiche Britin "Edith Greensley" ausgibt - eine Dame von Welt mit besten Kontakten zu britischen Banken. Aber nicht nur geschäftlich führte Irving Rosenberg ein Doppelleben - auch privat. Denn da gibt es auch noch seine attraktive Ehefrau Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) und Rosalyns kleinen Sohn, den er adoptiert hat und echte Vatergefühle zu dem Jungen hat. Die Betrügereien gehen solange gut, bis sie von dem durchgeknallten FBI Mann Richie diMaso (Bradley Cooper) auf frischer Tat erwischt werden und vor allem Sydney ins Gefängnis wandern könnte. Der Deal wäre, dass das Gaunerpaar mit dem ehrgeizigen diMaso zusammenarbeiten müssten, um an noch größere Fische heranzukommen. Als erster auf diMasos Wunschliste steht der Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), der Bürgermeister von Camden. Dem soll nämlich Bestechlichkeit nachgewiesen werden. Aber das Spiel wird zunehmend komplizierter. Der Mafiaboss Victor Telegio (Robert de Niro) soll als ganz großer Fisch ins Netz gehen, aber fällt dieser auf einen falschen Scheich herein ? Und kann Rosalyn ihre Eifersucht gegen Sydney zügeln ? Das Ganze läuft bald völlig aus dem Ruder...In 137 Minuten erzählt David O'Russell eine sehr interessante Gaunergeschichte, die plötzlich immer brisanter wird, da auch das organisierte Verbrechen und korrupte Politiker aufs Podium gelangen. Die Figuren müssen versuchen ihren Hals aus der Schlinge zu ziehen, was nicht einfach ist, weil jeder andere Prioritäten setzt. "American Hustle" ist vor allem ein hervorragender Ensemblefilm und zeigt Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams und Jennifer Lawrence in Hochform. Die Figuren sind toll getroffen und alle haben herrlich einen an der Klatsche, was sie sowohl unberechenbar als auch irgendwie sympathisch macht. Die Handlung basiert lose auf die FBI Operation "Abscam".Interessanterweise machte Russelll einen Film über die 70er Jahre, die Ausstattung ist allerdings nie im Mittelpunkt, sondern wirkt beiläufig. Sehr schön herausgearbeitet ist die Zielsetzung des emsigen FBI Agenten, der immer noch einen dickeren Fisch einfangen will.

Film bellissimo! Cast eccezionale in stato di grazia e la lucida regia di David O.Russell. 'American Hustle' ha soddisfatto la mia curiosità. Lo conoscevo di fama e il flop ai recenti Premi Oscar (zero premi su 10 nominations!) non ha minimamente cambiato la mia voglia di vederlo. Christian Bale fenomenale e camaleontico attore, cui ruotano attorno la splendida Amy Adams e la svitata moglie Jennifer Lawrence, senza dimenticare il bravissimo Bradley Cooper. Film da avere e vedere più volte e il prezzo molto buono ne fa un motivo in più per acquistarlo. Bene, anzi molto bene, la spediazione di Amazon con bel pacco e la sopracopertina in cartoncino. Grazie ancora Amazon!!