Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Report Card---"American Hustle""

"American Hustle" is a movie about the big con.
What's more fun than a movie about con men?
It was a take on the Abscam scandal a generation ago.
What was more fun than Abscam?
I think that I've established that this movie is fun.
It also has  a lot of depth to it.
It' is one of the most entertaining movies I've seen this  year, with magnificent performances up and down the line.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Totally.
A+.

Compelling even?

Often.
A+.

Is it controversial?

There are certainly moral issues at play.
A.

Is it a story worth telling?

Why not?
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Mostly.  There is one huge story hole that needed to be addressed.
To reveal it here would be a Spoiler Alert.  But anyone who wants to here it from me directly can e-mail me and I will respond about it.
It's what makes it a less than perfect movie.
B-.

Is it well written?

Very much so..
A.

Is it well cast? Well played?, Well shot?

Amy Adams, of course, is in this one too. (I keep writing that.)  Wonderful turns by Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Louis C.K., Jeremy Renner, and particularly Jennifer Lawrence.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

Never an issue.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Absolutely, and absolutely.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Never predictable, always surprising.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Mostly about how much I enjoyed it..
A+.

Is it funny?

Hilarious
A+.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

I suppose I could have waited for HBO.
C-.

Is it impressive ?

Very.
A.

Overall grade: A.

It's in my top three of those which were nominated.
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My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
e-books. But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

*****

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