I've watched David O. Russell's work since Easter Sunday in 1996, when I saw "Flirting With Disaster" as a story manically go across the country and have a series of domestic conflicts at a house in Arizona. As a friend said at the time, "it just kept going." I knew what he meant, and loved Russell's next film, "Three Kings," as one of the best of the decade. Then came five years of waiting, culminating in "I Heart Huckabees," which left me wondering how many more films this guy would make. He was in his mid-forties and taking his time. Another six years passed before he rescued "The Fighter" in mid-production, as the story goes, and that movie hit a chord with audiences and won Oscars for Supporting Actor and Actress. Up on stage, Melissa Leo and Christian Bale singled the director out. For all his rants as seen on Youtube and not-so-flattering stories, Russell gets more out of his actors than many. There are clearly rewards for working with him, including being in among the most honored films of the year. "American Hustle" must be categorized as a comedy, but the craftsmanship in script, acting, and camerawork are unmistakable. So is Russell's talent. And by the way, he's made three films in the last four years, all of them memorable, easily recalled, and remembered. He is on a roll, and has been worth the wait.
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