Tuesday, January 07, 2014

American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook

I went to see American Hustle a few weeks back, which reminded me that I liked The Fighter (both directed by David O. Russell) thereby prompting me to rent Silver Linings Playbook (also a Russell film)...  As you will soon discover, it seems as though I saved the best for last.

American Hustle falls squarely into the "Con Man Movie" category; or perhaps it is a definitive example.  A few other films immediately come to mind; Ocean's Twelve, Heist and to some extent The Prestige.  These are all films which center around really smart people trying to trick other really smart people.  Russell doesn't reinvent the wheel, he recognizes that a story about smart people is far more captivating than some convoluted plot.  Most likely the conclusion won't surprise you, but perhaps how it's received by certain characters will.  It would be convenient to note how drastically different Christian Bale's character is here in American Hustle from the last movie I wrote about, Out of the Furnace.  Unfortunately it isn't that simple; while both characters could be contrasted based on social status, employment, style, etc., they both share certain qualities.  One of the best moments in this film comes when Bale's character is given a gift; while he accepts the item graciously, he is ill-equipped for this moment.  He is such a disingenuous person, that it stuns him when someone wants to be his friend, and give out of kindness.  While the supporting cast here is excellent; Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and Jeremy Renner et al., this is definitely Bale's movie.  It is fascinating to see his character's relationship to each personality he comes into contact with.  While "Best Actor" awards often go to bigger-than-life performances, I think that Bale deserves one here for his subtle nuances.

Silver Linings Playbook is like another great comedy As Good As It Gets, in that it is about someone who has a mental illness, yet not about the illness itself.  This is a wise approach, because it makes the story accessible to a wider audience; just because I don't have this specific condition doesn't mean I don't have issues of my own.  While some viewing this film inevitably will be bi-polar like the main character, it's safe to say that everyone watching will have struggled with feelings of inadequacy.  If you're not seeing your weaknesses reflected in certain film characters, and being challenged, then I'm really not sure why you keep watching.  There are much more efficient forms of entertainment that require absolutely no introspection (i.e. television).  What I said previously explains why Silver Linings Playbook is a great film; what makes it a great movie comes from how enjoyable to viewing experience was.  There are three primary characters, led by Bradley Cooper, with Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro.  All three of these characters have their own mental illness, and each has developed their own approach to coping.  Instead of being a dreary slog through daily routines of the mentally ill, this film is a joyous celebration of people, who just so happen to be ill.  While there are dark moments, while there is tragedy, the overall atmosphere is bright.  I would hate to ruin the film for any who have yet to see it, so I will delicately say only the following:  About ten minutes before the film ended I knew exactly which two outcomes were possible (there are only two) and I was concerned that it would go down a sad path.  That I really had no idea which of the two routes would be chosen only made the film that much better.

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