Most overrated movie of all time - American Hustle (2013) Discussion

[–] SteveMoonlightAllaby 11 years ago

I disagree. I think it is underrated. There are other movies that are more overrated.

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bing-57 10 years ago

> I think it is underrated. There are other movies that are more overrated.

That's kind of a poor reason to like a movie just because plenty of other movies are overrated.

This was a terrible movie.

--
What Would Jesus Do For A Klondike Bar (WWJDFAKB)?

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[–] kasra-fallen 10 years ago

Nominated for 10 Oscars.!!!
i think {
it is a mediocre directed and scripted movie with all star casts.
all the attention went to the hairstyles and clothes.
}
I disagree. I think it is overrated.

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[–] FreelanceStuntdouble 11 years ago

I just finished it and I agree. I think all of its nominations were based only on the cast. The best part was Jennifer Lawrence's craziness.

You gave up everything you had to find me. You found me broken.

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[–] AgentBlue 11 years ago

Yeah she is the only reason I watch this movie well her and Amy Adams' twins!!!!

Lose the Game!!!!!!!

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[–] sazooH850 11 years ago

Am i the only one to have found Bale's acting slightly over the top? Especially the accent.. didn't do it for me. was too forced, too fake. Never found him to be a bad actor, quite the contrary. Maybe he should just stick to less extravagant characters. Even Cooper went a lil overboard with the sleaziness

10 nominations?? 10? really?? ... i would be ashamed.

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[–] PippyMusings 11 years ago

I totally agree about Christian Bale. I think he is a great actor but I just couldn't believe him in this role. Putting the extra weight on was such an unnecessary "method-actor" thing, too, which didn't add one iota to his character. I thought Bradley Cooper went overboard as well, although his scenes with Louis C.K. were one of the film's few highlights for me.

I cannot believe it received 10 nominations either. The Academy members must have been smokin' something pretty strong when they voted for this film!

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[–] sazooH850 11 years ago

yh for sure. definetly want a hit of that

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[–] catdaddyd 10 years ago

Just watched it, Bale was over the top. When he was yellin at JL and wasn't even looking at her it was ridiculous. Horrible movie.

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[–] gainerruss 11 years ago

Stick to your will Ferrell and Jack black mindless fluff and don't comment on great films. This movie is amazing, the plot is quite intricate if you know how to pay attention to the nuances and subtleties of foreshadowing. I'm pretty sure you'll need a dictionary for those words.

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[–] Catrician 11 years ago

Oh please - what depth is there in Hustle, beyond modest genre references by Russel to similar, more gritty Scosesian crime dramas? While the plot is expansive, there is no depth. Two unlikely character get together, one of them has an affair, then the other has an affair with a man having an affair. What's the depth in that? Look at a film like American Beauty. There is a similarly large amount of plots and subplots in that film, but they don't culminate together as one would expect, yet they do provide significant thematic and emotional depth. Where is that in Hustle? I'd take a couple of Black and Ferrel comedies over this mediocre film. It's not even that bad - it's just so far from a masterpiece that it's not even funny.

Top 100: http://www.imdb.com/list/mduBIpnlpTA/

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[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Yep, good answer mate!

I think what the last poster that you replied to is forgetting is that NOT everyone enjoys or gets so wrapped up in the pure Character / Drama of a film. Clearly, he is one who loves films like this. My feelings though are a bit more toward the way you described it. I DO think the quality is there and I REALLY am quite blown away by the amazing depth of Chistian Bale's performance (the VERY best I've seen so far, but I haven't seen 'THE MACHINIST' yet) and the other actors do a splendid job, but for me personally in THIS kind of 'Crime' film, which really is a HELL of a lot more a Drama film, I just don't myself get into this deep Character interaction stuff as much. If I'm watching a bloody Crime / Thriller, THAT is precisely what I want to see; if I wanna see Drama, I'll go and watch that. Just my personal take on it because of my preference.

But, if you REALLY love STRONG, character driven Drama, then you'll love this film. If you are looking for a Crime / Thriller, probably not so much...

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[–] oscarstegland 11 years ago

See The Machinist. It's an incredible transformation. Especially when taken into context that he weighed 95kg 6 months later for Batman Begins. He actually gained too much weight and didn't fit into the suit, so he had to drop back down to 90kg.

Also make sure to see Out of the Furnace from 2013. It's in my opinion a better, more humanly raw, and less stylized performance from Bale. He should've gotten the nod for that film instead.

Regarding your take on the genre/characterization, I can't say I completely agree. Character-driven films generally have to resonate emotionally with the audience to work, whereas story-driven films are just that. They tell you a story. Doing a character study of someone that's extremely dislikeable is really difficult to get right. It isn't here though.

I've kind of stopped looking at films from a genre-perspective because a lot of the films I enjoy most start out as something I'm familiar and usually go in a really unexpected way later on. Of course there are genre films that just do everything right in a familiar sense and that works too.

What doesn't work for me here is that the story isn't really all that spectacular, and most of the characters rarely show a vulnerability that the audience can sympathize with. There are few glimpses with Bale and Adams characters respectively, but I never really care if they go to jail, get killed, or go free.

If you look at the German film "Downfall" about Hitler's last days, that's a perfect example of a great character study. By the end, even though you're extremely aware of what a monster Hitler was, you feel like you've watched a human.

In American Hustle, none of the characters are completely human. They only exist at certain points to further Russell's story which in itself doesn't really lead anywhere.If Bale had at the beginning gotten out of the business as was intended, nothing in the story would actually change.

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[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Yes, you make a very good point and I think you are refining it down to a more specific description of what is wrong with the film. However, I was just making a bit more of a generalized comment about 'Crime' films, particularly ones like this one that are more heavily weighted towards Drama. You ARE quite right that the characterizations do NOT have the depth to 'resonate' with audience as they should. I was just making the simpler comment that for a Crime film it really had a LOT of Drama (even it it was Bad Drama) so that that alone, regardless if it was done well or not, would alone be enough to turn off a lot of people who are really looking more for a Crime Thriller.

Appreciate the suggestions though; I'll definitely check them out, thanks!

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[–] hathor008 11 years ago

you've got to see The Machinist...it really shows Bale's acting chops and his willingness to go the extra mile for a character, just as he's done here in gaining a bit of weight, in the machinist he lost a whole lot of weight to take on the role.

---
Reality is subjective.

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[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Yes, I already have, uh... (cough...) snagged the Blu-ray, so I am VERY much looking forward to seeing it. I just HOPE that it is not TOO depressing (probably why I have put it off until now... I LOVE Psychological stuff, but I'm not too keen on just straight depressing stuff...)

Thanks!

And YES! Reality IS indeed quite subjective...

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[–] Korios 11 years ago

It is not too depressing, but it's quite depressing. I loved it though.

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[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Terrific...

Well, thanks for letting me know...

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[–] hathor008 11 years ago

how did you like it?

---
Reality is subjective.

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[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

I haven't seen it yet, but I'll definitely try to make a point of doing so

I have over 5000 films, many of them very rare and OOP. I LOVE to trade. PLEASE ASK!

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[–] panina963 11 years ago

You HAVE to see "The Machinist"...that's all I have to say except you'll be blown away...at least I was.

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[–] thomas-begen-194-976045 8 years ago

Blown away? How so? By how unbearably shtty it is? The Machinist was one of the biggest letdowns I've experienced in films I've watched over the past few years. "The Wolf of Wall Street" is also on that list. Honestly, though, I expected better from a film Christian Bale stared in. The man doesn't normally do sht films. DiCaprio, however, has no problem with it.

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[–] kmd11 11 years ago

I can't help but agree that this movie was very overrated. I especially find this to be the case with Jennifer Lawrence. The rest of them handed in fine performances, but her attempt at a NYC/NJ accent was terrible and it seems to me she was far to young for the role.

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[–] warlund71 10 years ago

-I agree...it WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OVERRATED! Because a movie comes out in December, EVERYONE will say it's the best pic of the year! -If this movie came out in May, it'd still be mediocre!

"It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt...Then it's REAL fun!"

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[–] cleft_asunder 11 years ago

I agree. I'm a big fan of American Beauty, L.A. confidential, Chinatown, and Blade Runner final cut. Those movies are master works. But this movie isn't doing it for me.

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[–] thomas-begen-194-976045 8 years ago

WTF is a "Scosesian crime drama"? Idiot. I suppose you mean "Scorcesean," or something like that. My rebuttal: What crime dramas has Scorcese directed? "Goodfellas," "Casino," and "The Departed." Any more? I suppose you could throw in "Gangs of New York." WTF does any of this have to do with the alleged shortcomings of "American Hustle"? Are you a legitimate moron or are you merely putting it out because you harbor some unspecific spite towards this film?

For all your pomp you display a profound lack of depth when it comes to analyzing and understanding films. For some odd reason you through "American Beauty" into the mix, for reasons which only someone with such confused thoughts as yourself could possibly understand and then you proceed, rather inadequately, to summarize "American Beauty" and compare it to "American Hustle," again, for reasons which would only make sense to someone with aspergers or a general lack of intelligence such as yourself. There are no similarities between those two films.

"So far from a masterpiece that it's not ever funny" ha ha ha, while you insert oblong objects into your rectum. Anyhow, "American Hustle" is just as good as Scorcese's best films, and better than most of them. If anything, Scorcese is over-hyped and overrated. He's great, sure. If he directed "American Hustle" with the same cast I'm sure there would be far fewer of you jerkoffs shtting on the movie, NOT because he would do any better directing it, merely because he is "Scorcese."

In actuality, the people who laud Scorcese have probably only watched a few of his movies since many of his movies actually suck quite bad, including "The Wolf Of Wall Street." There's a homework assignment for you asshles: Compare and contrast TWOWS with AH. Both films came out the same year. Both, allegedly, are character studies of people with poor character. In fact, I've watched both films in the past week. TWOWS could hardly hold my attention it was so unbearable. AH on the other hand was exhilarating from start to finish. One of the best films I've seen all year, along with "American Sniper," another greatly underrated masterpiece.

The shtters will be shtters and the films which should win the awards don't.

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[–] godfather4377-1 11 years ago

Posters like gainerruss should be banned from ever posting on the message boards.

Why don't you got get your pomp-pomps, and join a cheerleading squad. I hate posters that get so offended when others don't like their favorite movie.

The movie is very overrated. Is there anything in the movie that seriously stands out besides the pretty good acting? Subtly? (laugh)

Please, in five years no one will talk about this movie.

Why are all movies now based on true stories these days? Hollywood can't come up with anything on their own anymore?

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[–] jetze10 11 years ago

Buddy, get over yourself. You think this movie was some kind of piece of art or something?

Aside from the cast, this movie has nothing going for it. I agree with everyone else on here that no one will be talking about this movie in 5 years. Weak story and bad script.

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[–] RustySpiderr 11 years ago

Stick to your will Ferrell and Jack black mindless fluff and don't comment on great films. This movie is amazing, the plot is quite intricate if you know how to pay attention to the nuances and subtleties of foreshadowing. I'm pretty sure you'll need a dictionary for those words.

You're just a typical mind-numbingly stupid idiot. In your eyes, anyone who doesn't shares your opinions must like Will Ferrell or Transformers or whatever. Just proves what a superficial, downright stupid person you are.

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[–] emerpus01 11 years ago

Wow gainerruss, you've got quite the elitist attitude there.

American Hustle is not Fellini, you know.

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[–] joependleton78 10 years ago

GAINERUSS

I hate it when people like you use idiotic arguments like "stick to your Jack Black mindless fluff" when a person slams a dramatic movie. I mean talk about a cop out. I think that "American Hustle" is overrated, overacted and pretentious. So that must mean I only like Paulie Shore movies. I think it's laughable that you would think that.

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[–] shred-com 10 years ago

Not the most overrated obviously, but it is still overrated. None of the characters were interesting, and just all felt fake intstead. Everything played out in the most generic way possible, and the ending was just so mediocre. It was well directed, but even then I thought it was work of a good director trying to be a great director. Meh.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 10 years ago

This is a lazy cliche: anyone who does not share your love for Film X must have shallow, mainstream tastes. Personally, I found this incredibly dull despite my love for other ostensibly "slow" films like Persona, Melancholia, and My Dinner with Andre.

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See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

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[–] dalldorfw 10 years ago

"Stick to your will Ferrell and Jack black mindless fluff..."

Yes, fluff...unlike American Hustle (?)

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[–] gainerruss 11 years ago

I will agree american beauty is a great film. But someone should view this film without trying to compare it to Scorsese or other films. It's like Dali versus Picasso. I don't care it's a Russell film and the actors aren't the only reason I vouch for it. Yes, we've seen couples cheating before. The depth and the nuances I speak of are the cons everyone is playing and how conflicted they are, the fines lines they cross and how emotional it makes them. This isn't a violent caper or eye candy special effects. It's a character study with con jobs.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] lathe-of-heaven 11 years ago

Very thoughtfully explained...

Well done...

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[–] cornnetto 11 years ago

And if you are going to do an ensemble film avoid voiceover. It's a lazy device and a cheap way to transmit the character's feelings to an audience. Look at how Paul Thomas Anderson handled an ensemble cast in Boogie Nights, allowing for all their personalities to fluorish without utilizing voiceover as a crutch. That's how it's done. American Hustle felt like a half a--ed effort from O. Russell, and I hold a higher standard for him than for other filmmakers.

Agree with this, and if you do, do good voice over, not actor on their Ipad from home and thought after shooting because you realize you need it now.

The movie should have more work done in pre-production and post-production, it felt rushed a bit (and the producers said it was, the 20 December was a hard date and the process started later than expected because of SLP oscar run).

The craft was better in boogie night, but I enjoyed Hustle much much more.

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[–] ebettman-1 11 years ago

Conincidentally, I SAW (or tried to see) the I Heart Huckabee mess on DVD a few nights ago, and could NOT Finish it. My elderly Father gave up on AH after twenty minutes.

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[–] PippyMusings 11 years ago

This ^. Totally this. I agree with everything you've said. A con movie needs focus so the pay-off for the audience at the end is worth it. David O. Russell let the focus slip through his fingers, resulting in a confused, unsatisfying mess of a film.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 10 years ago

I agree that the first scene was compelling. I also thought it was good when Cooper messed up his hair. But after that, it became quite monotonous and I turned it off after a half hour or so.

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See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

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[–] sanziano 11 years ago

Try to watch The Great Beauty by Sorrentino, a suggestion by an italian fellow.

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[–] rdmisc 11 years ago

Absolutely agree with the title of this thread. Imo - below average directing all the way around, including;
- poor editing (the heart of the film was left on the cutting floor - Renner's Carmine)
- insulting use of exceptional talent by typecasting performance (DiNiro - I'm sure his body of work didn't need one more sidebar showing as a mobster)
- over indulgence and pandering to talent with "producer" privileges (Cooper)

Sloppy. Boring. Insulting.

Freedom of speech. Real Conversations. Real Friendships. Real Life. 7*4*11

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[–] PippyMusings 11 years ago

Well put. Renner's Carmine was the only character with a heart and, in fact, the only character I actually believed in and saw as a real person. If the film had focused more on Carmine and Bale's conflicted disloyalty towards him, it would have been a much stronger film. It could have been a film that people actually cared about. As it is, it is essentially soul-less.

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[–] feckyerlife 11 years ago

i just watched this movie yesterday. i was so excited prior to release. then after watching it yesterday. i dont see what the critics saw. it was good/ok. seemed more of a rip off of casino than anything. some of the acting was good some was bad, some were missed cast for sure, like jack huston as a mobster, that was a joke, i wasnt fond of bradley coopers character as well, actually i thought all the FBI players were bad, the whole FBI side made this movie feel as a comedy. i would say its a 7/10.

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[–] MeRFL 11 years ago

I can't believe that Ron Howard's superb "Rush" was overlooked for this overrated drivel.

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