Hustlers and Wolves
A year ago this time I was leading the cheers for David Russell's Silver Linings Playbook. This year, I want to say clear as day that David Russell's American Hustle is a giant snow job of a good movie, and I cannot believe critics are falling for the hustle, I cared about the characters in Silver Linings Playbook. It was old-fashioned at its heart and sweet at its core, and very well acted. I didn't care about a thing in American Hustle, Christian Bale plays a two bit hustler whom I don't care about. He runs a con with an FBI agent played by Bradley Cooper, whom I don't care about. All the movie does is remind me constantly. of films like The Sting or Catch Me If You Can that do it better. There is the occasional pleasure. De Niro is good and has a great moment. Amy Adams is brilliant but too little seen. But mostly, I was bored early and often. If you're looking for a cinematic snow job this winter, The Wolf of Wall Street would be your better...