Review: 'American Hustle'

I was deeply surprised by how underwhelmed I was as the end credits to 'American Hustle' rolled. I usually can get into a good story, no matter how complicated it gets at times. And here it didn't work out some of the time, for me at least.

The story: Irving Rosenfield (Christian Bale) is a brilliant con-artist. He has an assistant who's also his girlfriend, Sydney (Amy Adams). They both get caught by FBI agent DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) who decides to go in over his head and play along in their cons. And from then on, it turns into a mess of double-crossing, secret identities, betrayals, and affairs to name a few. This all turns what should have been a simple plot into a convoluted puzzle.

I didn't know who has conning who, who was the criminal and who was the good guy. Now some may make the argument that that was the intention of the screenwriter, to not make you know who to root for or trust. Well, I can understand that. But I think it could have been made more aware of if the pacing wasn't so slow in one segment of the movie, and then heavily rushed in the next segment. I just felt confused half of the time.

I'm not saying this is a bad movie. I'm just saying that there are some things and events in here that are structured very badly that kept me from enjoying the progression of the story. This all really baffles me, it really does. I have seen movies that have had far more difficult story-lines and plot elements and that I have loved nonetheless. I mean, most of Christopher Nolan's films have been like that for me and he's still one of my favorite directors of this century.

Hey, at least the acting is great, and the costume and set decorations look great. Seriously though, almost all leading performances in this movie are worthy of award nominations, they are that good. Bale, Adams, Cooper, Lawrence, Renner, they all do great work with what they've got. Also, much like last year's 'Argo', I did really feel like I was watching something taking place in the late 1970's. The look and style of everything felt authentic; The hair styles and clothing, the furniture, everything.

Like I said before, it's not a bad movie, I just didn't enjoy it as much. I'll definitely have to watch it again sometime. Maybe I'll like it a lot better the second time around, but for now, judging on my first viewing basis... Well, you know.

My rating: 2.5 / 4

Review: 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'

We all daydream. I remember my daydreams vividly from when I was a kid, to the ones I've had within the last week. Walter Mitty's daydreams are no different from ones I've had and, I'm sure, many others as well. And you know what, that's one of the few things this movie really got right. There are scenes and moments from 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' that are mirrored almost directly from real life, with little romanticization. Those daydreams of being a hero, beating up the bully you've always despised (in the most epic of ways), or those first awkward conversations you have with a girl you really like. All these things are a delight to see accurately represented on screen; We've all been in those situations, and understand what it's like. So when it comes time for our hero to 'stop daydreaming, and start living', it's almost reassuring in a way that the same thing(s) can even happen to us in our own future, so long as we allow it to happen for ourselves.

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) works for Life Magazine, in the department of film development. Many things are happening around him in his life: A new girl (Kristen Wiig) has caught Walter's eye, the magazine is under the threat of shutdown (moving on to the digital age), and he's helping his mother out with some new living accommodations. To add the icing on the cake, so to speak, a roll of film from legendary photographer, Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn), has been shipped to Walter, with a missing negative. Walter must break out of his little secret world of dreams in order to find both the film and himself.

I admired this movie. I love it when you anticipate something to be good and turns out it actually is, instead of being an underwhelming experience. The passion for life and living life to it's fullest was depicted really well in this film. People who say the film has got very little to do with the original short story, or that it's very inconsistent with what it's anticipated to be, I'm just glad that there is still a story here which I can follow and be inspired by.

One really cogent and significant thing about this movie, from a technical standpoint, was the fact that it was shot on film and not digital. With the movie's actual story centered around the old fashioned ways being the best way, it was all the more appealing. Everything looked grand, luscious and desirable. That is, ironically, everything outside of Walter's fantasies. I give major props to the director of photography, Stuart Dryburgh, who I believe deserves an Oscar nomination for cinematography. His images and visuals are astonishing, beautiful and yet surprisingly simple, for the most part. Half the time, when Walter was on his journeys, it reminded me in many ways the look of 'Never Cry Wolf' (1983); both films would let the images and landscapes speak for themselves, without letting the camera do all the work, tricks and all. With no computer imagery or green screen tricks, the actual location shots with the main character is really a sight to see.

There's been a lot of talk and rumors that this might be the last time Ben Stiller appears on screen, as he possibly retires from acting, and transitions into full-time directing. Either way, after seeing this movie, I can't wait to see what he has in store next.

My rating: 3 / 4