American Hustle

2014, US, directed by David O. Russell

Zips by with considerable verve (something of a David O. Russell hallmark, of course, even if this is nothing like as as frenetic as, say, Silver Linings Playbook), despite virtually all of the characters being pretty unsympathetic as human beings (the excellent Louis CK comes across as the most likeable person, and he's barely in the film). Still, the immersive experience of the time and place is quite beguiling and the top-of-the-poster performances are fiercely committed -- and there's absolutely no doubting Jennifer Lawrence's star magnetism when she's on the screen.