Kudos to David Russell for his magnum opus, American Hustle.
The movie left such a strong impression on me that I went back a second time to catch what
I missed the first time and what a delight it was.
Christian Bale and Amy Adams
star in David Russell's American Hustle
Russell is a master of depicting his characters in various stages of transformation as he entertains us with a cast of accomplished actors, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence all of whom, chameleon- like, exude a non-stop flow of energy.
The film was inspired by and based loosely on the
Abscam sting operation that took place out of the FBI office in Hauppage, New York in the late 1970's.
In going back the second time, I realized there is so much more to this film than just the telling of a story with a fantastic assembly of over- the- top actors.
This real life Atlantic City scam featuring a phony Arab sheikh posing as financier is just the stage for each scammer to exhibit and betray the tension and ambiguity of living a morally deprived life.
At the same time that Irving Rosenfeld (Bale) and his accomplice Sydney Prosser from Albuquerque (the ravishing Adams) posing as Lady Edith Greensly a British Aristocrat, are pulling off scams with fake artwork and phony loans, they are also exhibiting strong signs of moral rectitude.
Their scams are uncovered by FBI agent Richie Demaso and in return for immunity from prosecution,the pair agree to participate in his plot to implicate Camden Mayor Carmine Polito (played by Jeremy Renner) a a plot in which the latter and his congressional associates will take kickbacks to secure for the
sheikh the necessary licenses, permits and approvals to build casinos.
Robert De Niro stars as Victor Tellegio,
second in command to Meyer Lansky who insists
on a $10 million wire to prove the sheikh's legitimacy
Irving, while unfaithful to his young wife Rosalyn, harbors strong paternal feelings for his little son and is reluctant to divorce her; she ultimately has a relationship with a mobster, Pete Musane.
It becomes obvious that FBI agent Demaso ( a family man who is engaged to be married -while still living at home with his solid, grass roots first generation Italian family) wants to make a big name for himself with the Bureau-- and THAT, in itself, would be enough on his plate.
But agent Demaso and, seemingly, the ravishingly alluring British accented Lady Edith begin falling for each other. In a scene, when they are just about ready to strip off each other's clothing and consummate the relationship, the Lady resists and tells Demaso that she is not who he thinks she is
"I'm Sydney Prosser, an American," she blurts out. She herself is a fake! A big con artist!
Naturally, Demaso is crushed and we assume that his inflated ego, by degrees, will transform himself back into the respectable engaged first generation Italian son, the role his parents expect him to play.
What is the fate of Irving and Sydney?
Well, first off, they avoid prosecution.
The film ends with Irving telling us that they were able to secure a loan and take their art business legit..
Transformations are in it for all.
Even Rosalyn, Irving's wife knows how to take care of herself and her kid.
Without a doubt and with undue respect to the Academy, this film wins BEST ACTOR for Christian Bale, Best SUPPORTING ACTRESS for Amy Adams, BEST PICTURE and, above all, BEST DIRECTOR for David Russell.
