American Hustle [2013]

Director David O. Russell convincingly cheats off Martin Scorsese’s paper, Christian Bale channels De Niro and the All-Star cast struts around like they are in “Saturday Night Fever” in a sterling comedy really loosely based on 1970s Abscam scandal.

d: David O. Russell | imdb.com | trailer | He saved my life.
Dry cleaners | He can’t get enough | Science oven

The Town (2010)

Ben Affleck directs and stars in a bank heist picture set in Charlestown, Mass., the capital of bank heists, with average results. Affleck can’t find the right tone for the film or his complicated character, and only Blake Lively gives an interesting performance.

d: Ben Affleck | imdb.com | trailer | My bank was robbed.
You dummies shot a guard. | I never asked you to. | Six inches

The Hurt Locker (2009)

Director Kathryn Bigelow expertly builds tension with each wire cut by bomb specialist Jeremy Renner in an Iraq war picture refreshing void of ideology. Renner gives a superior performance, his character part reckless artist, part John Wayne.

d: Kathryn Bigelow | imdb.com | trailer | “Charlie Rose”
opening sequence | Die comfortable. | cell phone