“American Hustle”:—Everyone Hustles To Survive
With its ensemble cast, this film has received almost unanimous accolades for the universally stunning performances, under the direction of David O. Russell. Still at the top of his game (after “I Heart Huckabees”, “The Fighter”, and “Silver Linings Playbook”). All of Russell’s movies, intentionally or not, are the embodiment of a certain malaise, the sense that we have lost our community spirit, and everyone is on his or her own. It is a war of all against all, or at least a cold indifference of all to all.
“American Hustle” is about the ultimate con game, of which there have been many in...