Year: 2013
Directed By: David O. Russell
Written By: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
RYAN’S REVIEW
When we watched this movie for the first time it immediately had me with the initial caption: “Some of this actually happened.” This movie goes against the grain and doesn’t claim to be based on a true story but simply admits “some” of it actually happened. That’s incredible because nothing annoys me more than a movie that promotes itself as “based on a true story” despite how many several liberties that were taken with the truth. So right off the bat this movie makes a statement. It’s honest and that says a lot about the type of filmmaker David O. Russell is. This is another stellar movie added to his already impressive resume.
I don’t know what parts of this movie are true and what parts are fiction. In truth I don’t care and won’t look it up to find out on principle. I don’t think it matters what really happened in this story. All that matters is this story. This story is awesome and it is brought to life by some actors that turn in some really impressive performances. I think this movie looks and feels like David O. Russell’s version of Goodfellas. Christian Bale reminds me so much of Robert De Niro in this movie both by his mannerisms and voice. The content may be different but the way these two stories are told are similar with the voice over and biographical feeling. Nevertheless, I’m not criticizing, when something is great it is great and there is no disputing this one. Both films are great and I can’t think of any scenario in which the two of them being similar is a bad thing.
I wasn’t a fan of Bradley Cooper when he first came around. I remember seeing him for the first time, in the days before The Hangover, playing Aiden in one of the later seasons of Nip/Tuck. The show had really gotten awful by that point and his character didn’t leave a good impression with me. Despite the initial impression I received this guy has never ceased to distinguish himself, especially in collaborations with David O. Russell. I really like the character dynamic Cooper brings to this film. He is kind of brilliant but kind of stupid at the same time. He is a goofy looking guy with his curls but he might snap and go a little crazy at any moment. Men who get into cocaine are like that, spur of the moment insanity. They start slow but over time it goes to their head before they know it. Cooper pulls it all off nicely. Great performance from an actor who has earned my respect over time.
Amy Adams continues to be flawless and incredible. She is a beautiful woman who brings true talent to all her performances. She has specifically shined in David O. Russell films as she was also great in The Fighter. She fits into his films so deftly, and brings it each and every time. In this film she looks so incredible in those dresses. She plays such a dominant female role and I specifically like that about her. She isn’t just a pretty face in this movie she is another badass in a film about badasses. She plays Bradley Cooper for a chump and owns him at every turn. She is a strong female lead and she should have won the Academy Award for the part.
Christian Bale, second greatest Batman after the first, never fails to be incredible no matter what he does. Despite not having an upper lip the man has done well for himself. As I mentioned earlier, in this film he reminds me implicitly of one of the greatest. I do not know if it was intentional or not but it is so spot on that I feel like it had to be. It’s amazing the things he does to his body for his roles. We have seen him on each edge of the spectrum and in between. He has been anorexic in The Machinist and The Fighter, he has shown the in between as a muscular Batman, and we have seen him put on the weight for this film. He put on over 40 pounds for this film. Bale continues to build what has already been an impressive career.
Jennifer Lawrence is phenomenal, plain and simple. I wanted to be on the edge, I’m weird when it comes to trendy things and nobody has been trendier than Jennifer Lawrence for the last several years. Nevertheless her performance speaks for itself. Her accent is what shocks me so much in this film, it’s incredible. Not only that but I refuse to acknowledge how hot she is because when she first came around I thought she was too much younger than me. I’m weird about that and it’s different as the years have passed. Nevertheless she makes it hard not to notice with this performance and I doubt anybody did. She plays the kind of woman that all men and women fear alike. The unpredictable kind that can pretty much get whatever she wants and knows it. She is intimidating in all the ways that only a beautiful woman can be.
For this whole film I kept telling Amber how much Christian Bale reminded me of De Niro. Imagine my surprise when he actually showed up in the film. I didn’t know prior to this although I should have. I love his part in this movie and I love what he brings to this film. Nobody does mobster like De Niro and I am happy to see how exceedingly well he can still pull it off. De Niro is just one of many gems playing a smaller role in this film. I remember an episode of Louie that was all about how uncomfortable Louis C.K. was acting in films. I thought there was something to that episode and I had seen something into his real persona. I doubt that now because he brings so much to this film with his performance.
The only thing that got Jeremy Renner on the poster for this film was that hairdo. Otherwise I think his role in the film isn’t all that different than the ones turned in by De Niro and Louis C.K. and maybe they could have just as easily been that fifth person headlines for the film. Now don’t get me wrong, that hairdo is a thing of awesome and maybe he deserved that listing. Not only that but he is in the now, really hot at the moment and he does bring something significant to the film.
It’s not lost on me that two significant actors from Boardwalk Empire are in this film about Atlantic City. Shea Whignam, who plays Nucky Thompson’s brother Eli, and Jack Huston, who plays the assassin with no face Richard Harrow, both appear in the film. That is another connection between Martin Scorsese, who serves as Executive Producer of the HBO series, and David O. Russell. I am now inclined to think that Russell may be the second coming of Scorsese and if that is true then this man is only getting started. We have a lot to look forward to from him and the actors he has drawn to himself. In a time where marketable drives the movie industry it is nice to know that there are still men out there making art. Making films that are more than just about making money and about lasting forever. That is what we have in David O. Russell, a director that will make something unique and exceptional no matter what he has decided to do. I have faith that he will continue to make the great films of the future and I can’t wait to see them.
This isn’t a movie that I need to recommend because it’s too recent to have been overlooked. It was a great film that received a lot of well deserved attention and respect. It has no real connection to the 4th of July theme I suggested earlier other than having “American” in the title. It might be a bit of a stretch but I was just looking for any excuse to watch this movie again and write a review about it. I love it and I think it is proof that extraordinary films are still being made. This movie is worth your time to see. If you somehow missed the boat then it’s never too late to climb aboard and see what you were missing.
AMBER’S REVIEW
I really, really enjoyed this movie. It is put together in such a beautiful, artistic way. Everything about this movie is beautiful. I think the entire cast was incredibly on point and the story keeps you interested until the end.
The poster on the other hand, it could be better. Honestly, we like to say that everything could look better, and because I like this movie so much I am finding it hard to actually bash this one. I think it does what it needs to, but it also depicts some of the classic “no-nos” that I have been preaching to you guys for years. There is a MONTAGE of the cast. I hate to admit, but with a cast like this you almost have to put them all on the poster. Some people are going to come simply because they see Jennifer Lawrence’s name and others the same for Bradley Copper. Still, I think there were other ways they could have gone about it instead of putting them in the Mighty Ducks “flying V” and then feathering out the edges into black. The typography is intentional and it works for this period piece.
I still kinda of like it which makes me have some serious inner fighting people. I can’t decide. What do you guys think? I need your thoughts on this one!
The Movie Snobs 