Saw this the other day. Despite a crap seat and being able to hear the film in the cinema next door, this was bloody good.

I have no idea how you can rock a belly that big and an elaborate combover that bad and still be the coolest guy in the room but Bale did. I watched closely as getting thin and fat comes to the best of us.

Good to see Renner in a decent role for a change. And DeNiro. I've always wondered what the fuss about Jennifer Lawrence was. Now I know. This was the first movie in a while I found myself really rooting for characters and their dilemmas.

An all star cast and all at the top their game.
A fine piece of work. A long running time, but it flew by.

Yes, thumbs up for sure.

Really enjoyed every part of this. Superb performances all round. Easily the most fun I have had in the cinema in a long time. Nice to see Louie CK in another film role (after Blue Jasmine). The scene where Bradley Cooper was celebrating and inpersonating CK was phenomenal.

Joint third place (with The Wolf of Wall Street) for my favourite film of the year, behind Place Beyond The Pines and 12 Years a Slave.

Overrated Scorcese rip off. Looks cool on the surface, but it's not very entertaining once you bite into it. I honestly don't know how this one fooled the critics. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad per se. The acting, direction, dialogue, etc. are all solid. It's just not as smart as it thinks it is. Russell's sporadic nature worked well in Silver Linings. But it doesn't work here.

They should have just renamed the movie "Amy Adam's Side Boob." Hubba hubba.

Quoted from albinopenguin Overrated Scorcese rip off. Looks cool on the surface, but it's not very entertaining once you bite into it. I honestly don't know how this one fooled the critics. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad per se. The acting, direction, dialogue, etc. are all solid. It's just not as smart as it thinks it is. Russell's sporadic nature worked well in Silver Linings. But it doesn't work here. They should have just renamed the movie "Amy Adam's Side Boob." Hubba hubba.

You've said everything I feel about this film. On the same page.

I thought this was decent. Obviously, the actors brought it to a whole new level, especially Christian Bale. I left the theater feeling pleased yet slightly underwhelmed but I couldn't really fault any particular aspect of the film. The writing, directing, etc. were all solid, more or less. I couldn't really say otherwise.

I guess perhaps the film is just more flash than anything else. It seems all the hair, outfits, silly accents, and yes, side boob were supposed to be the primary appeal of the film, even with the amount of gusto the actors brought to the table. I mean, that's how the film was sold. It's fun for a bit but after that, you're left with a story about bribing politicians. I think O'Russell and co. made that story as interesting as it could possibly be but one has to wonder if they took away all the cheesy 70s gimmickry, would the film have really taken off.

I also think the story had a *slight* problem with stakes. If this whole plot fell through, Cooper's character had still promised Bale and Adams they'd be off the hook if they brought in four cons. They could've easily nabbed some schlubs off the street, which was the initial plan. Maybe Cooper wouldn't have went for it coming off such a big stakeout but his character was so goofy, I'm sure they could've talked him into it. They tried to incorporate some danger later on when the mob comes into the picture but this wasn't taken nearly far enough.

Coming off Silver Linings Playbook didn't help either. Again though, I can't really fault any aspect of the film all that much and I did get a sense of genuine enthusiasm from all involved. Good, not great, I'd say.

Those are some solid points James.

For me, the fun with these movies is the drop out. The movie builds and builds and builds, and then everyone gets their comeuppance at the end. This movie's fallout wasn't so bad. You introduce this nasty mob guy and then nothing really happens. Furthermore, the angina element literally had no purpose whatsoever.

Frustrating to say the least.

Ending was probably the film's biggest problem, I wanted everybody to crash and burn so hard but it just never happens. Just didn't like how it all came together so 'cleanly'. But besides that, solid, solid film, one of the most stylish ones of the year and those performances... Sold on everybody here, even the minor characters and especially Christian Bale. Despite its Scorsese-like nature, I really think this is one of the best of the year.

Quoted from nawazm11 I really think this is one of the best of the year.

I'd say that's true. I watched 'Wolf of Wall Street after this and in many ways they are similar, but each has it's own strengths.

Thinking about it, it's a damn fine day when there's comedies this good being made by people at the top of their games.

Usually film comedies are either shockingly bad, involve lots of farts, Adam Sandler and a frightening lack of effort. Even drunk teenagers would struggle to find a titter.

I still smile every time I think about this film. I'd say it's a shame it's not gonna win more Oscars but then again, I remember what a career boost that's been to Cuba Gooding Junior.

R