ASUPS begins the second half of the semester with a bang, presenting “American Hustle” as its first campus film following spring break.
Imagine you’re in the late 1970s, early 1980s New Jersey. You’re a con-artist in the prime of your life, at the height of your career. The film begins here.
“Some of this actually happened,” the opening credits say.
The film follows the story of Irving Rosenfeld, played by Christian Bale, and his partner in crime Sydney Prosser, played by Amy Adams.
Together Rosenfeld and Prosser con people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, as Prosser poses as an English aristocrat with financial connections in England. After attempting to con undercover FBI agent Richie DiMaso (played by Bradley Cooper) they are forced to work for the FBI to avoid serious jail time. They must catch 4 more people in the act.
Throughout the process of these criminal escapades, Rosenfeld falls into a romance with Prosser, and struggles with his wife, Rosalyn Rosenfeld (played by Jennifer Lawrence_ who refuses to divorce him
The film follows the story of Rosenfeld, Prosser and DiMaso’s task to catch criminals and the romantic mess between all four of the main characters.
“American Hustle” is a film that entertains both with its ridiculousness of some scenes, costumes, and dialogue, and also with the incredible plot and film elements. The accents the actors take on are amusing and the tiny little curls that Cooper has for his role as DiMaso add a comedic element to the film, while the dramatic elements involved with the complex plots the con-artists come up with make the film interesting to watch. The love-square, if you will, is also entertaining to watch, as Rosenfeld falls for Prosser and Prosser falls for DiMaso and Rosenfeld’s wife in the mix, falling for another man outside the main cast. As the film progresses, you can see the characters change and evolve into better human beings, a process that is always fascinating to watch. The film combines comedy and drama in an effective way, making it so you never once lose interest as you watch.
If you chose to see the film this weekend, you will not be disappointed. It will make you laugh and think and you will enjoy it thoroughly.
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars this past Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (David O. Russell), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Christian Bale), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Amy Adams), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Bradley Cooper), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Jennifer Lawrence), and Best Achievement in Costume Design (Michael Wilkinson). While it did not win any Oscars, it did win several other awards, including 3 Golden Globes, 3 BAFTAs, and 1 Screen Actors Guild Award.
The film is rated R for language, some sexual content, and brief violence.
It will show in Rausch Auditorium, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., Saturday at the same times, and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
