David O. Russell's American Hustle - Part 1

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is [split]380061[/split]

 

[kvz5]

http://tinyurl.com/87976u7

David O. Russell Eyes Crime Drama 'American ********'; Christian Bale Sought To Star


Update: Deadline reports that the project is still in very early stages, nothing is quite official, but Russell is taking a look and Christian Bale is in very early talks to star.

Director David O. Russell has spun the project roulette wheel and has added another promising film to his big pile of stuff he might do.

Currently in post-production on "The Silver Linings Playbook," that helmer has now signed on to direct "American ********," a Black List script that early last year, Ben Affleck was considering as a followup to "The Town." Written by Eric Warren Singer ("The International") the film is based on the true story of Abscam, the FBI's 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress to root out corruption, which was the brainchild Melvin Weinberg, one of the most notoriouis conmen inthe world, who was hired by the bureau to run the investigation. The operation targeted thirty-one officials and led to eleven convictions and while it came under scrutiny for its unorthodox methods, all the convictions were upheld on appeal.

As THR cautions, the project is in early stages (and Deadline says the director's rep are denying he's doing it) and Russell's involvement apparently depends on casting. And not only that, dude has a handful of other options as well. In the past while he's lined up a plethora of projects including: a Columbian hostage movie entitled "The Mission" that had Brad Pitt sniffing around a role; a biopic of Rhode Island mayor Buddy Cianci and another biopic on Russ Meyer. And who knows what else may cross his plate in the coming weeks and months. But "American ********" sounds like a juicy story, that would also offer a bit of gear change for the director. But no guarantees yet it will make it in front cameras with Russell at the helm.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Yup. All he got is a Golden meaningless Globe nom.

 

[Bim]

Am i the only one who liked Renner in this movie? I thought he was much better than Cooper. He just felt more natural to me while Cooper overacted in certain parts. I say all of this as someone who doesn't even get Renner's appeal in general. Personally, I think he deserves to be getting the supporting actor buzz rather than Cooper.

Nope, kvz. I loved Renner in this, much more than i did Jennifer and Cooper. I agree with you about Cooper overacting at times, he really annoyed me (more than he already does lol). I felt for Renner's character, he really won me over.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Yup. All he got is a Golden meaningless Globe nom.

He also has a Bafta nomination! which puts him in good stead to be nominated for an Oscar when the time comes. It seems unlikely he'll win, but he should at least be on the shortlist.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Amy Adams just won the Golden Globe for her role in AH!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Well deserved.

 

[The Caped Knight]

congrats to Amy, she deserved it

 

[kvz5]

Very happy for Amy. That's a much deserved win.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Almost forgot, but I believe J-Law won for Supporting Actress as well.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Almost forgot, but I believe J-Law won for Supporting Actress as well.

Yep the Hustle ladies are on it tonight. t:

 

[TheNextNolan22]

American Hustle wins Best Comedy Film.

 

[kvz5]

This is the best thing everrrrr. Drunk Amy singing Defying Gravity at a gay karaoke bar:

 

[Fallen Angel]

t:

Go on Amy.

 

[kvz5]

My Oscar predictions for this tomorrow:

Best Picture
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Costume Design
Best Hair and Make-up

 

[craigdbfan]

Watched American Hustle a few hours ago and thought it was a good movie but it wasn't as good as I had expected it to be.

The best performances were from Renner, Cooper, & Bale. The editing felt a bit odd to me and the first half of the film wasn't very engaging. I'm still wondering how The Wolf of Wall Street didn't get more love which to me was 10 times more the movie AH was trying to be.

Jennifer Lawrence as much as I love her I felt had something of an inconsistent performance. At times it would be really good and at other times it was just awful. Then again her character was aloof and garish so maybe that served as a bit of a turn off. Amy Adams did good but nothing out of the extrodinary or even close to award worthy.

Out of all the leads I think Bale ventured more outside of the box and it felt so weird seeing him play such a meek and vulnerable character.

A 7.5/10 from me and that's mainly from those three great performances I mentioned above.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Watched American Hustle a few hours ago and thought it was a good movie but it wasn't as good as I had expected it to be.

The best performances were from Renner, Cooper, & Bale. The editing felt a bit odd to me and the first half of the film wasn't very engaging. I'm still wondering how The Wolf of Wall Street didn't get more love which to me was 10 times more the movie AH was trying to be.

Jennifer Lawrence as much as I love her I felt had something of an inconsistent performance. At times it would be really good and at other times it was just awful. Then again her character was aloof and garish so maybe that served as a bit of a turn off. Amy Adams did good but nothing out of the extrodinary or even close to award worthy.

Out of all the leads I think Bale ventured more outside of the box and it felt so weird seeing him play such a meek and vulnerable character.

A 7.5/10 from me and that's mainly from those three great performances I mentioned above.

They're too uptight.

 

[flickchick85]

I don't think AH was trying to be a movie like Wolf of Wall Street at all. I agree that WoWS was the better film (only slightly), but AH was all heart, while WoWS was all bite. The two films are night and day to me. Both great, though, imo.

 

[craigdbfan]

I didn't mean thematically. I meant the whole con man/swindler deal. It wasn't successfully executed in my view in AH.

 

[flickchick85]

We'll have to agree to disagree there, then.

 

[weezerspider]

American Hustle wasn't really about con-men though. It was about 'surviving', how everyone lies and changes simply to survive. They used con-men to tell the story. The Wolf of Wall Street was about greed, corruption and succumbing to all seven of the deadly sins. Two entirely different films. Both were great, IMO.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

American Hustle was Russell's attempt at Scorsese's "Goodfellas" style. Wolf is Scorsese third "Goodfellas" film. Th editing, music and storytelling devices are all there.

I love both, but Wolf is a much better film.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

On the whole, Russell definitely has a thing for Scorsese. I know that The Fighter was inspired by Raging Bull and that the original idea was to have Scorsese direct it, but there are so many scenes and moments that mirror past Scorsese films, and Russell definitely embraced it. Right off the top of my head it recalls Casino, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull. It is the same with American Hustle. It screams Goodfellas and Casino.

Russell must be a fan of Scorsese. It is the only way to explain the editing, his structure, his use of music and how many of his scenes call back to past Scorsese work.

 

[kvz5]

TheWrap has the Louis C.K./Cooper scene - http://www.thewrap.com/american-hus...ilarious-louis-c-k-imitation-exclusive-video/

Full GIF set - http://boxblocked.tumblr.com/post/73643772738

 

[weezerspider]

On the whole, Russell definitely has a thing for Scorsese. I know that The Fighter was inspired by Raging Bull and that the original idea was to have Scorsese direct it, but there are so many scenes and moments that mirror past Scorsese films, and Russell definitely embraced it. Right off the top of my head it recalls Casino, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull. It is the same with American Hustle. It screams Goodfellas and Casino.

Russell must be a fan of Scorsese. It is the only way to explain the editing, his structure, his use of music and how many of his scenes call back to past Scorsese work.

Oh, I don't think anyone denies that. I just feel some people recently have unfairly labeled him a "Scorsese rip off' when other guys have done the same thing. Everyone takes from Scorsese because he's the man. His influence is everywhere. Paul Thomas Anderson, who is a better director than O. Russell IMO, rips off Goodfellas and Casino in Boogie Nights as much as O. Russell does in American Hustle, yet no one labels him unfairly as a 'Scorsese rip off'. Hell, Boogie Nights last scene is nearly identical to the last scene in Raging Bull. And Martin Scorsese took from guys before him too. Said last scene from Raging Bull, directly quotes On The Waterfront. Art inspires other art. O. Russell isn't doing anything worse than anyone else in that regard.