She's breaking box-office records in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. And now Jennifer Lawrence reunites with her Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell for American Hustle.
The film is a fictionalised account of the infamous Abscam Scandal that rocked America in the 1970s and 1980s. An FBI investigation into widespread corruption, the case led to the conviction of a senator, six members of the House of Representatives and other high-ranking officials.
Russell's film is a quick-witted, fast-moving period extravaganza, lent pizazz by eye-popping costume designs and hair and a rocking soundtrack. Chameleonic Christian Bale dons an unflattering combover (and sports an impressive gut!) as con artist Irving Rosenfeld who, along with his partner-in-crime Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), is roped into assisting an FBI sting operation. The rub? The agent who coerces them is the highly unstable and volatile Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper).
The cast have drawn unanimous acclaim but a great deal of praise has been reserved for Lawrence, who plays Irving's brassy wife Rosalyn. With an impressive mound of hair and a tough New Jersey accent, Rosalyn is said to draw both pathos and laughs – especially her recurring battles with a new invention called the microwave!
"One of the best creative times in my life," is how Lawrence describes making the movie. "David and I would be on the phone for hours, creating her together."
On Wednesday, Jennifer won Best Supporting Actress at this week's New York Film Critics Circle Awards for her role. Russell and co-screenwriter Eric Singer were also awarded for Best Screenplay and the movie also nabbed the highly coveted Best Film Award.
It sounds to us like yet another brilliant performance from Jennifer. American Hustle is released on 1 January.
