American Hustle: this story, particulars aside, has been told many times before (sometimes even better); what sets this film apart and puts it (quite) above the average heist movie is the rich, well-written and, above all, entertaining gallery of characters and their relationships. Indeed, the bonds, rivalries, romances turn out to be more relevant than the plot itself. The whole cast is making the best of the material; Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper stand out because their characters are flashier, but everyone is equally impressive. Hair, make-up and costume design are borderline caricatural, but they add to the entertainment value, along with the soundtrack. David O. Russell certainly crafted one entertaining film.