Screenplay Review: American Hustle

“All my life I been lookin' over my shoulder worried about the Feds, and for what? If I knew how fuckin’ stupid you guys really were I woulda stole the world.”

          David O. Russell's recent success at the Oscars as made him the director de jour around Hollywood, but to his credit he has shown the desire to stick with what he feels works both in regards to the players in his cast and the subject matter of his films. American Hustle (formerly known as the brilliantly titled American Bullshit) written by Eric Warren Singer continues the recent string of Russell films featuring characters on the fringes of society who are not exactly viewed at as favorable by the rest of normal America. This time around the story focuses on Mel Weinberg, a two bit con artist who has achieved modest success through skill and authenticity. Mel is good at what he does and is able to balance his sham of a career with his family life and even an extramarital affair. However when the FBI come calling Weinberg is put in one of two scenarios: either help the FBI or face the consequences of his previous actions. He ends up participating in something that continues to escalate and grow until it reaches absurd levels of corruption.

                             

          The major point to mention with American Hustle is that it doesn't view its main character with any form of judgment whether it be negative or positive. Mel’s actions are his own and so are the consequences. The script features face paced, smart talk and vulgar language that seems to be a mix of early Scorsese with Tarantino. Indeed the whole thing gives off a Goodfellas vibe both in the beginning and in the end (especially the last shot), but the real meat of the script is allowed to develop on its own without the weight of another film to be inspired by. The script develops a path with just the right highs and lows for an overall solid story, but one that could definitely benefit from a director who knows what he’s doing.