It’s always a shame when Netflix says goodbye to good movies, and this month, some of the movies leaving the streaming service are truly painful. Not only is the big red streamer removing Sam Raimi’s entire Spider-Man trilogy, as well as a gripping thriller with a deadly twist, but it’s also about to make way for “American Hustle,” a raucous crime drama with a touch of dark comedy.
Released in 2013 and directed by David O. Russell, who is coming off the critical and commercial success of his previous film, Silver Linings Playbook, this drama explores corruption in New Jersey's civil service, but it's not a boring political film at all. With a cast brimming with stars like Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence, it's a real treat.
I've been a huge fan of this movie since it came out – I still remember seeing it to a packed house over the holidays over a decade ago – but unfortunately it's being removed from the Netflix library on Saturday August 31Here's why you need to watch it before that…
What is “American Hustle” about?
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Set in the turbulent 1970s, the plot begins with two con artists, Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), pushing their luck a little too far. After being caught in the act by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), the two men are forced to use their deception skills in a sting operation.
The target is New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremey Renner), and the rogue agent is eager to involve the popular politician in a scam. Irv and Sydney are reluctant to get involved, but faced with the prospect of prison time, they have no choice but to go ahead with the scheme. However, the seemingly well-thought-out plan begins to spiral out of control when wealthy sheiks and a mob boss get involved.
As if this crazy sting operation wasn't stressful enough, the whole house of cards is about to come crashing down when Irv's jealous and unpredictable wife (Jennifer Lawrence) spills the beans. It may sound too ridiculous to be true, but this drama was inspired by a real FBI sting operation.
“American Hustle” is a gripping crime thriller
Unsurprisingly, in 2013, when “American Hustle” was about to hit theaters, the pre-release marketing campaign made a big deal about its actors, and for good reason. Every single one of them is in top form.
Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence particularly shine, but Adams, Cooper and Renner are also excellent and the supporting cast is equally well-stocked with recognizable names including Louis CK, Michael Peña, Jack Huston and Shea Whigham.
While “American Hustle” was a bit long for its time (it’s a bit long at 138 minutes), there’s a real energy to this drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. It mixes interesting and seriously flawed characters with clever comedy and some well-timed plot revelations (I wouldn’t enough (call them twists) that add even more drama.
I'm not the only viewer who was wowed by “American Hustle” when it came out. The film earned an impressive 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoesand this score is the result of nearly 300 reviews. However, its audience score is more mixed, with a lower score of 74%, and the film has proven to be quite divisive, with some viewers criticizing its length and drawn-out narrative.
According to Rotten Tomatoes' Critics Consensus, “Burningly funny and impeccably acted, 'American Hustle' makes up for its flaws with unbridled energy and some irrepressibly vibrant direction from David O. Russell.” Meanwhile, Peter Howell of Toronto Star He called it “one of the smartest films of the year, and also one of the best.”
Popular review Richard Roeper was equally enthusiastic, saying, “Best time I've had at the movies all year.” However, not all the reviews were positive, The New RepublicDavid Thomson called “American Hustle” “loose, wandering and often monotonous.”
Watch “American Hustle” on Netflix Now
If you're looking for a Hollywood movie with real stars, then you can't go wrong with “American Hustle.” Even if the plot highlights aren't your thing, just seeing such a strong quintet of actors take turns is a treat, and the period setting is also very well done.
“American Hustle” was also a major Oscar performer, with 10 nominations at the 86th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was also nominated in all four acting categories (everyone except Renner was nominated). Sorry, Jeremy. Even though it didn’t win an Oscar, such recognition is another indication of its quality.
So, if you’re looking for a Netflix movie to watch this weekend, “American Hustle” is a great choice, especially now that the movie is about to leave the streaming service. However, if you’re not quite sold on this crime drama, here’s a look at everything new on Netflix in August 2024.