American Hustle Review -Cast Carried

American Hustle is only as great as its director and cast, which are fortunately outstanding. David O. Russell, director of Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter, mixes the casts of his previous movies in undoubtedly the greatest ensemble performance of the year. Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, and Christian Bale all live up to their names and reputations with Bale standing out the most. However, the best of the movie ends with them.

Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) is a con man practically from birth with a pudgy-belly and a comb-over but makes up for it with an earned and possibly naïve confidence. Irving is fully aware that he may be conning himself into living a precariously happy life in order to survive another day and voices that concern to the audience. Irving is joined in the narration by his lover and partner in crime, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams). They are, however, caught and recruited to take down increasingly high profile targets by over-eager FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). The relationships of these characters are compressed and pulled about with every stressful operation and every actor is utilized to their full worth. Bale shows great range during Irving’s emotional growth and excellent delivery in his rage and charm. Adams is convincingly seductive with an attention holding plunging neckline throughout the movie. She is as cunning as she is sexy, yet organic, human, and vulnerable. Bale and Adams have the chemistry on stage to carry most of the film with their turbulent love affair and uncomfortable situations their ordeal pushes them into. Smaller characters played by actors Louis C.K. and Robert De Niro also excel under Russell’s direction. The cast plays off each other well and sell the movie by themselves.

The film never quite commits to being one type of movie. It is rather alchemy of a comedy, a drama, a crime thriller, and a character piece. Many hilarious moments come from the way characters interact with each other rather than situational, dry, or tongue-in-cheek humor. All moments tend to hit well. The drama comes with the many shades of truly grey morality within the people and the situations. Irving is most conflicted when one of the men the FBI seeks to take down is Camden, New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) –who is targeted simply because he is desperate, but is otherwise a sincerely good man doing his best for his people. The enthusiastic impatience of Agent DiMaso pushes Irving to perform morally grey entrapment where Irving cons politicians and mobsters for his family’s own interest. While compelling on many levels, the themes tend to get lost in each other. The one tone it does keep consistent is the convincingly American 1970s setting with aesthetic crowd-pleasers aplenty. Period music is occasionally used but in all the right places.

Partly due to the movie’s lack of commitment to a tone, it loses focus at certain times. While Irving and Sydney’s dynamic carried much of the movie, the parts where that relationship gets muddled without elaboration dragged on. The inevitable payoff of a crime thriller is there, but despite over 2 hours of film, doesn’t get quite the build-up or final conflict to excel the film any further.

American Hustle still does what few other movies are able to do in making this alchemy work. It makes up for its flaws in focus with an outstanding cast and stands to be a contender in the upcoming awards season.

VERDICT: 4/5

The Dark Knight Rises Inspiration

The Graphic Novels that Inspired the Dark Knight Rises & How

“The Dark Knight Rises” teaches one big lesson when making good movies of comic book characters: Know the source material. From plot elements to character determinism to themes, inspirations from Batman’s graphic novels are profusely evident in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Christopher Nolan and David Goyer have constructed back to back masterpieces in their Batman trilogy. It ends the legend with tact and finesse while calling back to the first two movies seamlessly. While “Batman Begins” & “The Dark Knight” borrowed immensely from DC’s comics, the finale is the best example of this practice. Thanks in part to respecting the comics, DC’s characters were properly represented and skillfully portrayed by Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, and more. “The Dark Knight Rises” leaves a lasting impact and a shining example of how to adapt superheroes from graphic novels to a financially successful and cinematically brilliant movie franchise.

This is not a review, as there are many others that do this movie justice.

Followers of my blog already know I hold “The Dark Knight” in high esteem and what Batman graphic novels I regard as the best from my Ten Best Batman Stories article. Here I bring you what books inspired “The Dark Knight Rises” and in what way. I cannot say for sure that Christopher Nolan and David Goyer read them all, but the impact of these novels is surely felt.

Ten Best Batman Stories

CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD

LAST CHANCE!  SPOILERS AHEAD!

Year One)

While “Year One” was the major influence to “Batman Begins,” its effect reverberates through the latter two Batman movies. It characterizes James Gordon extremely well with how he goes about fighting a futile struggle against corruption and his relationship with the Caped Crusader. Selina Kyle also makes an appearance and the novel grounds her in reality. While the movie used a more familiar Batman: The Animated Series/ Arkham Asylum (video game) characterization of Catwoman, this novel was the best revamp of the character up to the point at which “Year One” was published.

The Dark Knight Returns)

Bruce Wayne’s retiring as Batman and returning after years of depression is ripped straight from the pages of “The Dark Knight Returns.” While the specifics differ, he retires due to tragedy and lives out his days in shame growing out his beard and being recluse. His return is due to necessity, despite his broken body and aging spirit, though he was always waiting and wanting to return.

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?)

This graphic novel was the definitive story for the end of Batman. The unique set of circumstances of Christopher Nolan’s Batman, however, makes him a different character having never fought the endless battles that the Dark Knight has in Detective Comics. He has never met Superman, joined the Justice League, recruited Robin, or battled dozens of enemies from his rouge’s gallery. So while “The Dark Knight Rises” may not be the definitive story of Batman’s end that Neil Gaiman’s novel is, it is the conclusive story of Christopher Nolan’s Batman. In “What Happened to the Caped Crusader,” one of the ways that Batman died was with him saving the city from a bomb in similar fashion to how he supposedly met his end in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Kingdom Come)

“Kingdom Come” is not on my “Ten Best Batman Stories” article because it does not star Batman any more than it stars Superman. One of the most critically acclaimed works in the entire medium, this apocalyptic graphic novel takes place in the heroes’ twilight years with Batman in a neck brace. It characterizes Batman’s obsession and includes the one-liner “So that’s what that feels like” when Superman disappears in the middle of conversation (Catwoman in the movie).

Vengeance of Bane)

“Vengeance of Bane” tells Bane’s origin story of how he was born and raised in a prison. The movie led audiences to believe this was Bane’s origin when it was changed into Talia’s, daughter of Ra’s al Ghul.

Son of the Demon)

Talia al Ghul was the character with which the most liberties were taken in “Rises.” She is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul but also in love with Bruce Wayne. In the movie, they become lovers briefly, but Talia ends up having no attachment to him. “Son of the Demon” is the most acclaimed graphic novel in which Talia al Ghul has a large role.

Knightfall)

Bane is often referred to as the man who “broke the bat.” In “Knightfall,” Bane systematically assaults Batman physically and mentally and breaks his back. In addition, the events of “Knightfall” lead to Alfred Pennyworth’s resignation as Bruce Wayne’s butler.

R.I.P.)

In “R.I.P.” the organization known as the “Black Glove” makes an assault against Batman and Bruce Wayne’s mind. The theme of Wayne’s metal instability, break, and eventual rise resonates with many sequences within the movie as well as its title.

The Long Halloween)

“I believe in Harvey Dent,” is the final line of this major influence for “The Dark Knight.” It details Harvey Dent’s descent into madness and his becoming of the crime lord “Two-Face.” One of the novel’s major themes is that once Batman clears the streets of most of its sane organized crime lords such as Falcone and Maroni, insane ones take their place. It raises the question as to how much of the rise of Gotham’s criminally insane is Batman’s fault, and how Gotham is a symbolic representation of Batman. In “Rises,” the streets are cleaned, the insane go berserk, and Gotham is Batman.

Legacy)

Bane and Ra’s al Ghul have teamed up in the comics during the “Legacy” story arc. Together, they seek to destroy Gotham City.

The Cult)

“Batman: The Cult” has the Dark Knight facing off against a large group of enemies who take control of the city in much of the same way as Bane and the freed criminals of Blackgate Prison do in “Rises.”  This extremely controversial and graphic book leaves the Batman temporarily broken, and he must come back to wage war on the Cult and their leader with his tank-like batmobile and other resources.

The Ten Best Batman Stories

Batman is one of the most celebrated characters in fiction, having starred in 10 live action films, 9 animated features, 28 video games, and countless comics and novels. With the upcoming release of the anticipated Dark Knight Rises movie, I decided to pile together my top ten Batman stories across all media. I can’t say that I’ve scoured the endless volumes of Batman tales that are continuously churned out, but I have ordered my personal favorites in having been an avid Batman fan since I was 3 years old.

All of the movies since Adam West’s campy rendition of the character in 1966 have been considered as well as the most widely acclaimed graphic novels. All works with Batman in less than a starring role or where he shares it with another hero were excluded as well all television series such as Batman: the Animated Series and Batman Beyond. All stories were measured by their standalone merit.

Disclaimer: This is not an evolving list and only includes stories released before July 2012 when this article was first posted.

Honorable Mention) Year One –by Frank Miller (Graphic Novel)

In 1986, writer Frank Miller was charged to bring back Batman as the dark figure of the night he was before the censorship of the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s. In addition to his “The Dark Knight Returns,” he wrote the hugely successful “Year One,” recounting the first year of Bruce Wayne’s dawning of his alternate persona. Batman lore owes a debt of gratitude to Miller, having rebuilt him as a brutal vigilante against street crime and corruption with all of the dark mentality that came with being one. It was the major inspiration for the movie “Batman Begins,” though it was not a direct adaptation. However, it does not make the top ten because it’s unable to stand on its own despite its lasting impression on future comics. Needing to recreate Gotham City’s image holds this story back, not being able to take the gritty environment readers know today for granted. This is the giant whose shoulders other stories stand on and come become even greater.

10) Arkham Asylum –by Paul Dini (Video Game)

In the dwellings of the psychotic criminals he put away, Batman faces trials from many high profile villains after they take control of Arkham Asylum in this sandbox style video game. Few other stories go as deep into how Batman always finds a way to win. While it adds little to the Batman legend, this is the perfect introduction to any incoming fan to learn about the tales of his supporting cast and his past triumphs. The classic voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are brilliant as Batman and the Joker respectively and add another level of legitimacy to the game. Its sequel, Arkham City, is similar in function and quality of story, so I’m putting them into the nine spot together. In this game, you feel like you are Batman.

9) Gotham Knight –by David Goyer, Josh Olson, and Alan Burnett (Animated)

The producers and writers of “Batman Begins” collaborated with six revered anime directors to create six chapters chronicling the time between the events of “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.” The result is a deep, dark, introspective look at the detective, urban legend, and man that is Batman. It is certainly one of the most creative pieces for the Caped Crusader. It is best enjoyed by fans of anime art styles rather than mainstream audiences who expect a seamless full length story.

8) Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth –by Grant Morrison (Graphic Novel)

 

In “A Serious House on Serious Earth,” the inmates of Arkham Asylum, led by the Joker, take over the crazy-house similar to the way it was done in the “Arkham Asylum” video game, albeit predating the game. Batman submits himself willingly to test his own sanity within the asylum’s walls, curious himself to see if his mind can withstand the scrutiny. The nature of madness is explored as is the feasibility of rehabilitating the criminally insane during the scenes telling the infamous hospital’s backstory through founder Amadeus Arkham, which run parallel to Batman’s introspection. The painting of Dave McKean is a strong, essential part of the narrative, contributing more to the story-telling than any other graphic novel’s artwork in memory. The bizarre and symbolic imagery warrants multiple reads and makes a case for surpassing a major inspiration, “Alice in Wonderland,” in story quality. However, the story is hindered by a lack of a strong plot and stakes. While the theme is strong, it seems to end too soon – just when it was reaching an apex of its thesis. It leaves the reader wanting, which is a mark of a good story that is not quite complete. If Grant Morrison’s novel was somehow combined with Paul Dini’s “Arkham Asylum,” it would be unsurpassable.

7)The Killing Joke –by Alan Moore (Comic book)

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “There were these two guys in a lunatic asylum…” Arguably the best Joker comic, it has gained notoriety as having expounded the limits of the Joker’s mad nature and for having paralyzed Barbara Gordon (previously known as Batgirl) with a bullet in her spine and taking naked photographs of her in pain. In following comics, Barbara was reimagined as Oracle, Batman’s wheel chair ridden go-to computer genius. In this story, Joker tells one of his many accounts of his origins and an inspirational one for the 1989 movie “Batman.” Joker’s goal: to drive Commissioner James Gordon insane from one bad day like both he and Batman have had.

6) The Dark Knight Returns –by Frank Miller (Graphic Novel)

It has been ten years since the death of Robin Jason Todd and the subsequent retirement of the Dark Knight. Society crumbled without the presence of Batman –even with the Joker in a catatonic state with no Batman to complete him. Bruce Wayne now seemingly seeks a good death in reprising his role as the caped crusader and ends up taking in a girl as the new Robin. While there are many highlights including the Joker, Two Face, and gang members, the moment with the longest impression is the end of the novel when Batman goes head-to-head with Superman, the “boy scout” who has become more or less a puppet of Ronald Reagan. Miller attempts to dive into the morality of Batman’s existence as a vigilante, however not as well as other stories in the countdown. “The Dark Knight Returns” is action packed enjoyment.

5) Mask of the Phantasm –by Alan Burnett (Animated)

This derivative of the Batman Animated Series revisits the past of the Dark Knight when recent events collide with old memories of Bruce Wayne’s love interest. It brings forth the best of the tone, music, voice acting, and animation style that made the Emmy winning Animated Series so revered and outstanding. This is the single best story concerning Batman’s vow to his murdered parents to extinguish the evil that took them and his sacrifices to fulfill that promise.

 

 

4) Death Mask –by Yoshinori Natsume (Graphic Novel)

Too little delved into is Bruce Wayne’s training before he returned to Gotham to assume the role as the Dark Knight. In this manga style graphic novel, Batman’s old ghosts from his training in Japan come back to haunt him when the detective finds that a murderer is stealing faces. This often overlooked novel tackles the symbolism of Batman dressed as a somewhat demonic looking being to incur fear. It is a fresh and riveting mystery where Batman battles an embodiment of an inner demon.

 

 

3) Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? –by Neil Gaiman (Graphic Novel)

Deriving its title from Alan Moore’s tale of Superman’s end, “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” writer Neil Gaiman correctly observes that Batman’s legend could never end like Superman’s with a wink and a smile. Batman would never stop his crusade or his obsession to rid Gotham of crime, an impossible feat, not until he was dead. One of the biggest difficulties in writing such a story is that fans would not be satisfied with Batman’s death, thinking that it should have happened in a different way. However, the brilliant structure of the novel has both enemies and friends of Batman recounting their own versions of his death at his surrealistic funeral from Selina Kyle to the Joker, from Alfred Pennyworth to Superman. All versions strongly describe a different characteristic of Batman from obsession to fear mongering to selflessness. Many seek a definitive volume detailing how the legends of the various superheroes end. For Batman, “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” is that volume.

2) Under the Red Hood –by Judd Winick (Animated)

The unpopular character reprising the role of Batman’s Robin sidekick, Jason Todd, was voted by readers to be killed by the Joker by calling a 900 number. The result was the graphic novel “A Death in the Family,” on which the animated “Under the Red Hood” is based off of in addition to the graphic novel “Under the Hood.” This unexpected masterpiece comes out during a time of mediocre Batman animated features without the classic voice actors of the Dark Knight and the Joker but still excels with John DiMaggio and Bruce Greenwood in their roles. It ambitiously tackles Batman’s struggle to not kill and cross the line between vigilante and criminal with the Red Hood, a mysterious figure who does just that. In showcasing many characteristics that make Batman uniquely him, “Under the Red Hood” does it best with the most superb dialogue existing in Batman lore.

1) The Dark Knight –by David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan (Live Action)

There is little I can say to add to the evaluation of Christopher Nolan’s indisputable cinematic masterpiece. The “Dark Knight” movie’s high entertainment value and the Oscar winning performance of Heath Ledger is the take-away for most viewers, but to those who understand Batman, it is so much more. It, in fact, changed the Academy Awards indefinitely by not being nominated for best picture and sparking outrage among audiences and critics, prompting an expansion in the number of films that could be nominated in the following years. This sequel to “Batman Begins” philosophically challenges the essence of Batman with his counter point, the anarchistic madman known as the Joker. In this story, the Dark Knight himself is a parable of guardians and protectors in all forms from government to police to vigilantes. His imperfect yet incorruptible design transcends heroism. In the end, this story makes a case for the justification of Batman’s very existence.

So here’s to hoping that “The Dark Knight Rises” will join this list…

Other Honorable Mentions:
The Long Halloween (Graphic Novel), Subzero (Animated), Batman Begins (Live Action)

All projects are collaborative and take the dedicated work of many to complete. For simplicity’s sake, I only named the writers of the works in my top ten Batman story countdown.

For more information on the top graphic novels, I recommend visiting IGN at http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html