Dir. David O. Russell
USA, 2013
Part of the Academy Awards nominees, Russell's "American Hustle" is an interesting study in character development through the lens of film. Russell reuses actors he's previously worked with to drive forward a loosely based plot of the Abscam scandal of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Featuring actors such as Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner, the film takes us back to permed hairdos and disco days. While both comedic and dramatic in various parts, and including cameos of famous comedians such as Louis C.K., the plot mainly focuses on the interactions of the characters and the illusions they create for each other.
While some reviews have dug into Russell for not focusing the story more on the Abscam scandal itself, the plot is merely a means to an end to focus on the charactes created and imagined by Russell and his troupe. The focus of characterization can be seen evidently throughout the film from the first frame to the last, while the plot is more of a macguffin.
The film begins with one of these in depth character studies. Christian Bale's character, having gotten dressed and ready to go for the "performance of a lifetime" goes for the final piece. He begins to comb his hair onto the blaring bald spot in the middle of his head. Greasy and elaborate, he works a mass of hair toupee into the bits of real hair surrounding it. He gloss it over with serum and continues to work at his masterpiece. Having gotten it into place he takes one final look at it. This action takes place on screen for about three minutes. After an altercation between his character and Cooper's in the fifth minute, Cooper destroys his hard work with one shove of his palm to Bale's head. The illusion is shattered and while the audience laughs at the interaction, we see for the first time the consequences of the truth. As Bale's character later says in the film, we con ourselves everyday to believe something about ourselves that isn't true, but because you want it to be true you let the illusion go on. This theme of illusion and the con of ones own self esteem can be seen throughout the film as a part of the development of each of these characters.
While Bale deludes himself into a comb over, Adams' character tricks herself into being able to be worthy of love. Having previously been a stripper, she changes her circumstances when she meets Bale's character. While she knows he has a family and a wife he'll never leave, she forces herself into believing that one day he will. When this illusion is threatened by Cooper's character arresting her, her world is turned upside down.
Cooper's character as the FBI agent, cons himself the most. Trying to live as an important cog in the machine and aiming for the fame and glory of a whistle blower, he lives with his mother, his bland fiancée and curls his hair each night. Having such lofty dreams ultimately leads to his downfall.
Lawrence, while at first self absorbed, egotistical and spiteful, the audience soon realizes her self concern is out of self preservation and survival in the only way she knows how, to use men.
The only character true to himself is Renner's corrupt mayor. While he does accept money from unsavory characters he only does so to revive his town. He never pockets it for himself and is ultimately devoted to his family and his job even if that means doing illegal things. This honesty with himself is what leads to Bale's characters hesitation toward betraying his trust.
While the characterization is based in the illusion of truth, there are also moments of truth in the illusion. Whenever Bale's character takes off his tinted glasses he ultimately becomes honest with the person he's interacting with. He puts aside the facade if only for a few minutes to be real, to not hide behind his lies. This can be seen at times with his interactions with Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.
Overall, Russell's "American Hustle" is a case study in character development. David O. Russell continues to delve into the characters he creates, and this film is no different. If you want to watch five every different characters come to realize truths about themselves as well as the consequences of their lies, this is the movie for you. If you're looking for a plot driven piece, I suggest you look elsewhere.