American Hustle

Director of the moment David O Russell enlisted A-list actors-of-the-moment for this enjoyable romp set in 1978 and loosely based on the ‘Abscam’ corruption scandal. Christian Bale is the standout, with a nuanced, engaging performance as the put-upon, sensitive con man Irving Rosenfeld.

The plot twists and turns nicely and the close-up heavy visceral direction works well alongside the fierce pace and silly hairdos. It’s fairly shallow fare, but to look for depth and meaning would be to miss the point. This is simply an ambitious, lurid rush, perfect for a night out, but not rich enough for many repeated viewings.

Duke’s At Komedia, 15 January 2014

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