Bradley Cooper

Dance on down to ‘American Hustle’, it is amazingly awesome

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The five main characters in the outstanding ‘American Hustle’ from writer/director David O. Russell

If you ask any fan of film to name a few of the best movies involving con artists, the first few that will be mentioned are almost certain to include The Sting, House of Games, Catch Me If You Can, and a few others.  The first two are the best of the genre.  Until now.  American Hustle, a film from David O. Russell is definitely a contender to be among the best movies involving a con or cons, ever.

Read moreDance on down to ‘American Hustle’, it is amazingly awesome

‘The Hangover Part III’ ends franchise with a thud

Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms in 'The Hangover Part III'
Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms in ‘The Hangover Part III’

[rating=1]Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, John Goodman
Director: Todd Phillips
Writer: Todd Phillips, Craig Mazin

In retrospect I don’t feel I came down hard enough on The Hangover Part II, but I won’t make that mistake this time. The Hangover Part III does do a couple things that the previous film should have, but at this point it’s much too little and far too late.

Read more‘The Hangover Part III’ ends franchise with a thud

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ falls short of the goal

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper co-star in David O. Russell's weak adaptation of 'Silver Linings Playbook'
Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper co-star in David O. Russell’s weak adaptation of ‘Silver Linings Playbook’

In Matthew Quick’s sensitive novel Silver Linings Playbook, the Solitano family – moody paterfamilias Pat Sr., peacekeeping mother Dolores, and son Pat Jr., recently released from a mental institution for reasons yet to be discovered – live in an Eagles-obsessed Philly suburb in South Jersey. David O. Russell has both adapted and directed the movie version of Quick’s book, which results in a scattershot translation lacking in many of the details that grounded the original story. That the Solitano household now exists in an unspecified Pennsylvania town is just the tip of the iceberg in how Silver, a piercing look into the mind of the mentally ill, has morphed into a neutered, loosy-goosey comedy without claws.

Read more‘Silver Linings Playbook’ falls short of the goal