American Hustle 2013

We do all sorts of things to survive. In a way, this is about codependency. Everyone needs someone else for something, whether it is money, love, protection, status, or simply a way out. The storytelling reminds me of David O. Russell’s Joy (2015). Both films follow messy people navigating equally messy relationships, and protagonists trying to survive environments that seem determined to pull them down. And just like Joy, there is something satisfying about watching the characters eventually find a way to regain control and make a powerful comeback by the end. Linus Sandgren is one of the reasons why I added this to my watchlist, and rightfully so. I got the beautiful visuals I was expecting from him. The lighting, framing, colors, and period texture give the film such a rich cinematic look. Another reminder why I always pay attention whenever his name is attached to a film. One thing that really lost me, though, was that this was not the kind of con movie I was expecting it to be. I thought the con itself would be more of the focus, with a faster pace and that constant feeling of people trying to outsmart one another. Instead, the film spends much more time with the characters, their relationships, and all their personal mess. Because of that, there were stretches where it genuinely lost my attention. I actually wanted to stop watching at some point and only continued out of discipline.