American Hustle, Cinema Scam

by Christina Waters | Dec 28, 2013 | Home | 5 comments

A couple of Hollywood makeup artists and costume designers sat around late one night, drinking and smoking and suddenly the idea hits them. The late 70s! Disco, John Travolta, wide lapels, polyester, and big hair. Let’s pile all those things into a movie. And throw in a few Oscar winners just to insure big box office.

And so it came to pass that American Hustle — oh so aptly named, my fellow filmgoing suckers —was born. In which we salaciously observe that even with fake curls and bell bottoms, Bradley Cooper is sexier than Daniel Craig and Elvis put together. We learn that the ghost of Robert DiNiro (both living and legendary) is alive and well. We are force fed the attempts of costumers and media hypsters to coax charisma into the stubbornly bland Amy Adams. We learn all over again that Jennifer Lawrence OWNS the screen, that cameras lick her face and salivate at her every gleam, sparkle and bounce. And we acknowledge something we have always known: Welshman Christian Bale is arguably the finest male actor working today (with profuse apologies to Benedict Cumberbatch).

But is all of this trivia really enough to hang a film on?

Fans of director David – Silver Lining Playbook – Russell may think so. (more…)

American Hustle, the short review

by Christina Waters | Dec 27, 2013 | Home | 0 comments

Even if you loved Silver Linings Playbook, you’ll find yourself squirming with a mix of boredom and irritation over the mashup of ad-libbed dialogue, recycled urban tropes, and manic plot “development” that inhabit the loosely-organized center of American Hustle.

Instead of a vibrant, sexy, tightly-orchestrated vehicle for some of the screen’s top talent, David O. Russell’s new period piece/home movie is poor man’s Scorsese.

Christina Bale is mesmerizing, as always, in the unlikely role of a small-time con man who hooks up with even more unlikely ex-stripper Amy Adams (“sexiness”  manufactured by way of gowns cut lower than the Marianas Trench) to pull some minor scams.

Bradley Cooper looks fantastic as a luckless FBI agent—Afro by way of pink curlers, tight polyester bell bottoms, and the sort of swagger that only a desperate loser can adopt. But his acting method is simply to scream louder and talk faster than he did in his previous Russell film.

Jennifer Lawrence is incandescent, as loved by the camera as was Marilyn Monroe. She’s the sole center of crazed, inspired comic brilliance in the film. Lawrence’s skin should be insured by Lloyds of London. Once this gal grows cheekbones she will own the world.

American Hustle is not the new 2st century screwball comedy. It’s a hustle. Caveat emptor.

Philomena

by Christina Waters | Dec 27, 2013 | Home | 1 comment

Why is it that films based upon “true stories” seem to stir up to much public approval? Do the actual events that form the scenario make the resulting film any more affecting or fulfilling?

Whatever the case, Philomena seems to have captured everyone’s hearts. And while I agree that Stephen Frears is a consummate director, and that his cast is outstanding, this small tale of an Irish woman searching for the lost son she gave away as a baby, simply did not transport me to new levels of sentimental pain.

At the risk of infuriating everybody, let me observe:

Dame Judy Dench—a gifted artisan—does most of her acting with her wrinkles. (more…)

Maharaja on Soquel

by Christina Waters | Dec 22, 2013 | Home | 3 comments

Open daily from 11:30 — generous and spice-laden lunch buffet @ $11.95. Terrific curries! The perfect antidote for turkey and mashed potatoes.