For Your Consideration: American Hustle and David O. Russell, Best Picture & Director

I know the For Your Consideration articles are suppose to be for films that have been left out of the discussions, but I chose American Hustle for Best Picture only to highlight David O. Russell. As I have said before, I firmly believe that Best Picture and Director should go hand in hand, which is why I am doing American Hustle and David O. Russell together; it seems only right. I am not going to say that American Hustle is a perfect film, but it surely is a great one! I think it pales in comparison to both 12 Years a Slave and Gravity, but American Hustle is still worthy for Best Picture, just in different ways. That being said, it also means David O. Russell is just as worthy. I believe either Gravity or 12 Years a Slave will be winning Best Picture, but there is still a chance for an upset and a split. In terms of Best Director, no one is taking down Alfonso Cuaron....which is why I am here getting you to take one last look at David O. Russell and his film American Hustle. 

                     

First, let's talk about American Hustle for Best Picture. Best Picture has and always will be subjective, it is always an in the moment choice. A lot of times the choice is based on making a political statement (12 Years a Slave), some are completely effects driven (Gravity), or for pure enjoyment (American Hustle).  From those three points come Best Picture nominees and winners. You can't sit and watch American Hustle and not be entertained. The movie makes you laugh, smile, get anxious, and even may surprise you. To me, that makes for a good movie. What makes it great is the acting and the visuals, and I guess you can include the screenplay. I think American Hustle has everything needed to be an Oscar Best Picture winner, but when it is up against two movies of "importance" it falls because it is only an enjoyment film. I have seen American Hustle twice, and have found it to be great both times. The movie makes you think, and the whole time you are trying to figure out who is conning whom, I loved that. I still believe we could see American Hustle upset 12 Years or Gravity, anything is possible. It is a well loved movie, and that could very well translate into Best Picture. We shall see in a few hours!!

Now let's talk about why I chose American Hustle, and that is simply to discuss David O. Russell. David generally writes his movies, which is a skill I am always impressed by with directors; to me it adds to their brilliance. This is Russell's third Best Picture and Director nomination in a row, and second Screenplay nomination: The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and now American Hustle. It is very rare for directors to have three consecutive picture and director nomination. Even rarer is for a director to get actors nominated in all four categories, which he did twice consecutively. To me, that is just amazing. He is an actor’s director, and everyone in Hollywood wants to work with him.  He knows how to create a character on paper and how to let it go for his actors to bring that character to life. He has now achieved the overdue directing and writing status, where people just want him to have an Oscar already. He makes magic. I just wish we could see him up on stage some day, if not tonight! 

I have yet to come across a David O. Russell film I haven't liked. I just enjoy what he does and how he does it. There is no director like him. Unfortunately, the reality is we probably won't be seeing American Hustle win Best Picture or Director, those awards are going to even more worthy films. There is a chance David could win Original Screenplay, but that may go to Her. One day David O. Russell will strike gold, but his three brilliant past efforts will not go unnoticed and will only add to the fact that he is overdue.