BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
I had a hard time with this movie. It’s just too good for its own good. The storyline and content is just so hokey that you want to write it off. You can’t. It’s so well acted, well timed, and so enjoyable that you just have to accept it’s awesome and want to see it again. That’s how it worked for me. I went into it with some laid-back anticipation because of the cast and the fact that it’s a David O’Russell movie, but I ended up becoming so enthralled in the movie that I found myself thinking about it days after first seeing it. David O. Russell made a new movie. What else do I need? The cast is outstanding in this movie. It’s clearly the best ensemble of character performances I can recall. Christian Bale stars as a con man who with his partner in crime and life, Amy Adams, that is forced to work with a crazy FBI agent played by Bradley Cooper. Things get all sorts of screwed up from there. Along with these A-list leads Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jeremy Renner, Michael Pena, and Jack Huston show up. Jennifer Lawrence is an obvious person to bring up. She chews up the scenery and spits it out. She just about steals this movie and is becoming one of the best things on the screen today. Her and Christian Bale together is a treat for anyone who enjoys performers at their best. One other person worth noting is Louis C.K. I have to point out how good he was in his small, but enjoyable role. He’s there to help move the story along and get in a few moments. He does it well and just seeing the awesome comedian and comedy figurehead on the screen in a role like that was cool as hell. The direction is tight and the storyline, with its twists and turns, is just good times. I don’t want to paint the picture of this movie for anyone. This is a movie that should be enjoyed and appreciated for the ride Mr. Russell and company take us on. I like movies that make you feel something. Movies like that don’t leave you once the credits roll. It’s just there and it lingers. This movie lingers. A
|
