Fat, Fun and Fashion in 'American Hustle'

So one of the movies I was eagerly anticipating in 2013 was American Hustle, starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

The movie is a fictionalised account of the ABSCAM sting operation conducted by the FBI in the late 70s to snare crooked politicians. I must say, the movie exceeded my expectations. It was crazy, fun, hilarious at times, and riddled with solid performances, particularly by Jennifer Lawrence, and with a bit of personal bias here, Christian Bale. Jennifer Lawrence's performance was fantastic -from whacky to vulnerable - she was perfect, and a great foil to Bale's Irving Rosenfeld.

However, let’s get to the meat of the matter, the critical word here being MEAT. Christian Bale put on an extra 43 pounds on his Dark Knight Rises frame for the role of Irving Rosenfeld in American Hustle. Now while I knew this, seeing it before me was a bit jarring. Gone was the hunk who saved Gotham and did those sexy push-ups in his bedroom in the Wayne mansion. Here was this slob with a really, really out-of-this-world combover. The opening scene which shows him perfecting this hairstyle, and later, where Bradley Cooper's character messes it up - priceless!!! But oh, this non-sexy Christian Bale took some getting used to.

Christian Bale (left) pre-Hustle - ever so sexy; Christian Bale (right) in American Hustle

That gut really was something else. Ugh. And look at those legs!

It was great!!! He has already lost a good deal of the flab (what's the secret, Chris?) and is almost back to his pre-Hustle size. All this weight gain and weight loss, which he in particular is known to do, cannot be healthy, no matter how healthy it makes his bank account.


David O. Russell, the director of this movie did a great job in making super sexy guys look a hot mess. It was bad enough having to watch Christian Bale look like the Michelin man. But then, there was also Bradley Cooper with perm rods in his hair every night, to transform his sexy coif into the white man jherri curl. I was really not feeling the white man jherri curl, Bradley.

Bradley Cooper in American Hustle

I also loved the late 70s fashion. Not all of it was bad. The 70s represented a very fierce decade, and between the drugs and corruption, there was still a gleam of light in the fashion industry. Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence rocked the bling, the boobage, the hair and some pretty swanky outfits.

Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle

Amy Adams is 70s fierce

But the movie was great fun. I was over the moon with the appearance of my fave actor, perhaps ever, Robert de Niro, which I was not at all expecting. Also, if you are a lover of 70s music, as I am, the soundtrack is bangin'. The movie is well deserving of the hype around it, and its award nominations so far. It's a great psychedelic ride - a ride I really enjoyed. My kinda film!