Allow me to start by saying that I feel like I've been waiting to see this movie for a very long time. In reality it hasn't been that long, but it feels like so long ago when I first saw the on-set photos, the hairdo's starting to take shape, Jennifer Lawrence almost spilling out of her dress as she stepped out of her car, Bradley Cooper in curlers. Now it's finally here.
The movie is definitely an ensemble piece, but at it's heart is Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), a small time con man who meets his match in Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams). Sydney has always dreamed of having a better life than the hand she was dealt and when she meets Irving, she finally feels as though she has not only met a kindred spirit, but also someone who can help make her dreams a reality. The only problem getting in the way of Sydney and Irving's dream, is that he is married, to a rather unstable woman named Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), and in doing the right thing for once in his life, Irving adopted her son, meaning his marriage vows are not going to be broken easily. As if the fact that the love of her life is married weren't bad enough, Sydney gets pinched by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) for taking part in Irving's dodgy deals, and ends up having to bargain for her (and Irv's) freedom by taking down a ring of mafia and politicians, including New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), in one of the biggest sting operations of it's time.
I hope you managed to follow that because if not, you may have difficulty following the film itself. Thankfully, David O Russell takes it all at a steady pace, resulting in a lengthy but rewarding movie. The actors are all faultlessly fantastic, and the fact that the main two characters of Irving and Sydney should be unlikable, makes it even more impressive that Bale and Adams make you like them so. Bale specifically really won me over. I have never been a huge fan of his, I appreciate how he throws himself into character more than most other actors do, losing and gaining weight in order to really become the person he's portraying, but I've just never been blown away by him before. I specifically wasn't expecting to like Irving as a character, a shady con man, but his final scene with Carmine was heartbreaking. And the scene at the party, perfectly accompanied by The Bee Gee's 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart', just sealed his performance for me. It's so clear on his face that he's finally realising the effect of what he's done on those he loves.
Adams is just perfect in every scene, I can't even really pinpoint one in particular, she's just mesmerising. Cooper's character is easily the most unlikable of the bunch, ironic in that he's the supposed 'good guy', but again that just speaks of his ability to play a character that you really want to punch for the second half of the movie. Renner and Lawrence both are very much in supporting roles but again both are tremendous. Renner's character really is the most decent of all of them and you really feel for him getting involved in the operation, while Lawrence manages to steal pretty much every scene she's in, and considering her limited screen time, her scenes are easily amongst the most memorable.
Although I wasn't born until after the 70s and most of their influences were long gone, I do feel Mr O Russell took some liberties with the costumes (especially for poor Amy), but if you have an actress with such a gravity defying bosom, you can't really blame him for dressing her that way. I did however think that he made great use of the styles of the era and certainly the music. I have already purchased the soundtrack after hearing Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, remembering how great a song it was and not being able to stop singing it. Don't get me started on Delilah and Live and Let Die.
Definitely a must see to kick off 2014, and I will stick my neck out now and say this is likely to be one of the best movies of the year. Oscar buzz is certainly justified. 9 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 1st January 2014
UK Release Date (Nationwide) - 1st January 2014
Cast Overview:
Irving Rosenfeld ~ Christian Bale
Richie DiMaso ~ Bradley Cooper
Sydney Prosser ~ Amy Adams
Mayor Carmine Polito ~ Jeremy Renner
Rosalyn Rosenfeld ~ Jennifer Lawrence
Stoddard Thorsen ~ Louis C.K.
Pete Musane ~ Jack Huston
Paco Hernandez / Sheik Abdullah ~ Michael Pena
Carl Elway ~ Shea Whigham
Anthony Amado ~ Alessandro Nivola
Dolly Polito ~ Elisabeth Rohm
Director ~ David O Russell
Writer(s) ~ Eric Singer and David O Russell
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