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American Hustle (2013)

American Hustle
You're nothing to me until you're everything.
—Sydney Prosser
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The opening sequence of David O. Russell’s American Hustle is all about style, polish, and hair.

The film instantly places itself in the late ’70s by using the Columbia Pictures logo that was in use from 1976 to 1980 as well as era-appropriate stylizations for Atlas Entertainment and Annapurna Pictures. The smooth opening bars of Duke Ellington’s “Jeep’s Blues” lend their magic and a dubious title card claims, “Some of this actually happened.” Next, more than a minute of screen time is given over to Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his complex combover: teased, stuffed, glued, and sprayed into place in a suite at the Plaza. The focus on the routine is unwavering, calling to mind the even more extensive scene in American Psycho in which Patrick Bateman (again played by Bale) details his grooming and fitness regimen.

Scene from American Psycho (2000) featuring Patrick Bateman's grooming and fitness regimen

What American Hustle lacks in script and editing, it makes up for in locks. And the opening moments are all about the hair. Kathrine Gordon, the production’s lead hairstylist, had the idea for a coiffure-centered scene and Director David O. Russell liked it so much he decided to incorporate it. Bale and Gordon rehearsed the scene for two days before it was ready to shoot. By placing this scene at the fore, just as in Mary Harron’s American Psycho, Russell tells the audience two things: this is a character-driven film, and appearances take the cake.

IMAGE: Still - Irving does his hair
IMAGE: Still - Irving does his hair 2

Immediately after this moment, viewers are dropped into a squabble and a scam. Irving, Sydney (Amy Adams), and Richie (Bradley Cooper) bicker and lay blame – much of the dialogue improvised by the actors – before heading down the hall. The pace slows into a sleek strut and Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” streams in, a warm song that both underlines the characters’ actions and infuses the scene with weight. As the title card comes up, set in ITC Bauhaus Medium and a golden hue, Sydney opens the double doors, flanked by Richie and Irving. Despite everything that’s passed, they present a united front. The show must go on.

IMAGE: Still - American Hustle title card

American Hustle (2013) main title card

  • Credits

Director: David O. Russell
Director of Photography: Linus Sandgren
Film Editing: Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers
Music: Danny Elfman
Title Design: uncredited

“Jeep's Blues” 
Written by Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges 
Performed by Duke Ellington

“A Horse with No Name”
Written by Dewey Bunnell 
Performed by America

“Dirty Work” 
Written by Walter Becker & Donald Fagen 
Performed by Steely Dan

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Title sequence

  • Category

    Film
  • Styles

    2010s, live action, main title, opening scene, type over scene
American Hustle
  • Film Director

    David O. Russell
  • Release Date

    December 12, 2013
  • Aspect Ratio

    2.35:1
  • Studios

    Columbia Pictures, Annapurna Pictures, Atlas Entertainment
  • Country

    USA
  • Languages

    English, Arabic
  • Reviews

    Reviews on Letterboxd
  • IMDb has full details

Article

  • Writer

    Lola Landekic
  • Published

    January 26, 2017

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