Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Comedy > Drama > Crime > Corruption > Politics > Investigation > Con Artists > Gangsters > Federal Oficial > American Hustle (2013/Sony Blu-ray w/DVD)

American Hustle (2013/Sony Blu-ray w/DVD)



Picture: B & C+ Sound: B & C+ Extras: C+ Film: B-



PLEASE NOTE: This film has been issued in a great, upgraded 4K edition and you can read more about it at this link:


http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16450/American+Hustle+4K+(2013/4K+Ultra+HD+Blu-ra



Now for the original review...


David O. Russell's American Hustle (2013) is a somewhat fictionalized version of the infamous 1970s ABSCAM affair where federal agents went after mobsters and landed up going after gangsters instead in a mess that closely followed Watergate. Bradley Cooper is an overly ambitious FBI agent who think he may have an opportunity to get some major arrests going when he helps to nab two con artists (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) offering them a big break from prison if they help him.


They reluctantly agree and the amusing madness begins with Bale's old con artist having the additional problem of a wacky, loud wife (Jennifer Lawrence) who complains about everything, cannot keep her mouth shut has no idea what is gong on, cares about their son and wants more in her life than she has while having zero inhibitions in the process. He also has a connection to a major politician (Jeremy Renner) who is mixed up with some mobsters and all these dysfunctional connections can only be a recipe for trouble.


Eric Warren Singer (The International) co-wrote the screenplay with the director which tends to be as literate as it is hilarious, while Russell has an amazing cast all working at their best (all too rare these days) and a pacing that is a plus. The only things holding this back are the fictionalizing is on he loose side and the film covers ground we have seen before (Scorsese's films, which are acknowledged here in a way I will not ruin and films taking place in the 1970s like Anderson's Boogie Nights and Stillman's The Last Days Of Disco) but this is one of the best films of 2013 just the same and one more than worth your time. Just don't go in with wildly high expectations and you'll get more out of it. Louis C.K. Michael Pena, Colleen Camp and Anthony Zerbe also star.



The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image goes out of its way to approximate what Eastmancolor (et al) would look like and Director of Photography Linus Sandgren (6 Souls, Promised Land) shot this in 35mm Techniscope (2-perf) in what would be one of the last-ever films to be shot on Fuji Film. The look works and is very consistent throughout, mostly achieving the look they go for, though fine detail is a slight issue, some of that is from the styling, the other from the format. The anamorphically enhanced DVD version's image is much weaker and a little disappointing.


The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is nice, rich, warm and full, only using all the multi-channel possibilities staying period as it does. Music sounds good too, though some songs (Elton John) are from true 5.1 mixes while others are not necessarily. I liked the sound design overall and the lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 on the DVD is passable, but again, no match for the Blu-ray.


Extras include Digital HD Ultraviolet Copy for PC, PC portable and iTunes capable devices, while the Blu-ray adds a Making Of featurette and Deleted & Extended Scenes.



- Nicholas Sheffo


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com