FILM  REVIEW - " American Hustle " - Mix together a December film, a great cast , a creative script , and the historical location of Atlantic City and the well known known politics of New Jersey and you should get a unique film ready for the Award months of mid winter.  I guess I listened to the early critic reviews and the clever commercials as I entered the theater expecting something special.  What I got was good , not great which left me somewhat disappointed.  This hustle will be better appreciated by the over forty crowd who will identify with the characters and the time period.  The length of the film, its subject matter and the slow development of plot will turn off many younger viewers.  Those of us who remember " The Sting " will be more patient waiting for the final half hour.
   With this being said, the film is worth the price of admission.   Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale are unique characters who make the most of their roles as self inflated FBI agent and a living on the edge hustler.
Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence light up every scene in which they appear.  Adams' sexy and faithful soul warms our heart.  Lawrence plays a dizzy recluse whose desire for a simple life highlights her versatility as a young actress.  A cameo appearance by Robert DeNiro brightens up the lumbering middle of this poorly edited plot line.   The ending is worth the wait but I left wanting  more from this overcooked Holiday meal.
Rated R  138 minutes  EJ Rating ***