American Hustle (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/

I had high hopes for this one, and so was a bit disappointed. The Abscam story in the background of this provides an environment for a smaller story about the people involved in and affected by the greed, corruption and confusion of the times. The main characters are mostly well done, and the reflection, through music, costumes, and sets, of the mood and style of the late 70s is impressive. Some of the minor characters are too one dimensional (the exception being Jeremy Renner, somewhat unrecognizable as the Mayor) and the lapses into comedy in the story are distracting. Jennifer Lawrence is excellent, even if her Jersey accent lapses too often to make her fully believable), but even better is Amy Adams as the brilliant con-woman Sydney Prosser/Edith Greensly. Adams' fully realized portrayal is wonderful, and provides the emotional centre for the story. But ultimately, the story falls flat, despite the truth of it.