Lawrence, Cooper, DeNiro in David O. Russell's 'JOY'

I will be saving myself, money & time by not seeing another overhyped David O. Russell film. It's unnerving watching that trailer and knowing how Lawrence was treated on set.

^ Broadway Guy / Bilbo used to always say the exact same thing about Mr. Russell. Interesting...

I find Lawrence compelling, so I'm sure I'll go see it. However, in general I am not a fan of cinematic acting troupes, so I'd rather see her work with others.

Russell is a sociopath who is hellbent on Oscar gold. Luckily that success has eluded him. Watch his face when Lawrence lost the BAFTA for Silver Linings Playbook. Listen to or watch his outbursts from past film sets. The man got his ass beat by Clooney, and have you ever heard anyone speak ill of George?

After American Hustle, I do not see myself sitting through another one of his films. And not to sound even more bratty, but I find Lawrence insufferable.

I unabashedly adored Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. In fact, I've never quite gotten the seemingly overwhelming negative reaction so many people - you guys aren't alone - have to American Hustle. It certainly was well received by most critics (90% at Metacritic), but it seems like most people I talk to were left cold. I was in heaven. I thought O. Russell's direction was exhilarating and the film one of the most purely entertaining experiences I've had at the cinema in years. I will say, the rest of his oeuvre - with the exception of some amusing moments in Flirting With Disaster - leaves me cold.

Lawrence may be hyped to death, but she still charms the pants off of me; DeNiro gave probably his only decent performance of the last 10 years in Silver Linings and in American Hustle and Cooper is obviously one of our best right now. The four of them reuniting - even if the gents' roles are relatively small - is reason enough for me to return.

Also, frankly, who gives a **** if people got along on a film set or not? I mean, that's fine for gossip and all, but so what if a few millionaires got in an argument about something? It's the final product that matters to me as an audience member.

Scoops certainly does know how to ignore being called Bilbo/broadwayguy. Just like Bilbo/broadwayguy.

K.

I hated hated hated American Hustle. Just such an unpleasant viewing experience. I think this woman's life is an interesting story and could make a good film, though, so I might go see it. I didn't care for Silver Linings Playbook, though I used to hate it and after I rewatched it I didn't have such strong feelings. I love I Heart Huckabees, though.

I 100% agree with you HorseTears. I have never been able to understand the mixed reaction that American Hustle recieved from most people and even from the critics at this point. When the film first opened, it got rave reviews with some critics hailing it the Goodfellas of our generation. People seemed to respond to it well too, at first. But then once the awards season fully developed and came into its own and after its ten Oscar nominations were announced everyone seemed to turn their backs on the movie and proclaim that it was overrated and not a well done movie. When I saw it for the first time, I was so enquires by the screenplay, direction, and cast that I couldn't stop talking about it and even went to see it a second time. I was so shocked and disappointed that it didn't win ANY of its nominations at the Oscars that year.

All in all, I loved both American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook equally. I am a big fan of David O. Russel regardless of how he acts on set sometimes, and love the pairing of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert de Niro together. I know that a lot of people don't like cinematic repretory groups, but to me there is a lot of fun watching actors I am comfortable with take on new projects together once a year and to enjoy them in that way. I don't think Joy looks to be as strong a movie as Hustle and Silver Linings, but I do think it will turn out to be a good movie and a great experience for me seeing some of my favorite actors and one of my favorite directors working together again.

Updated On: 7/15/15 at 11:03 PM

bfreak, yeah, I'm with ya. With those last two films I felt like I was witnessing the work of an unapologetic romantic with a keen sense of humor and joyfulness about the pleasures of filmmaking. I felt that exuberance in virtually every scene - not just in the dialogue or the interactions between the actors, but sometimes simply in the way Russell choreographed his camera as it swerved, dipped and dived - it was almost balletic.

I'm generally not a fan of film musicals, but I think Russell could be an interesting choice for one. He certainly knows how to use music to heighten a moment.

I also recall that strange backlash that seemed to settle in on American Hustle a few weeks after its release. I remember seeing more than one Oscars roundtable with critics - like the KPCC/Southern California Public Radio one and one of the biz print ones - perhaps Hollywood Reporter or Variety and hearing that silly word "overrated" so many times. Though, if you look at Metacritic you'll see a 90% rating and at Rotten Tomatoes it has 96% from top critics. I mean, that's pretty close to universal raves. Ah, well, his work's clearly not for everyone.

I guess I kind of understand this Emperor Has No Clothes mentality - though I obviously don't agree with it with regard to Russell - I certainly feel that way with every Christopher Nolan release. It's laughable to me that for at least a certain segment of the population that that hack is considered one of our great modern American directors.

"I guess I kind of understand this Emperor Has No Clothes mentality - though I obviously don't agree with it with regard to Russell - I certainly feel that way with every Christopher Nolan release. It's laughable to me that for at least a certain segment of the population that that hack is considered one of our great modern American directors."

Especially hilarious considering that Nolan's British, but it's a common error: that hack Nolan appears on the otherwise sensible Onion A.V. Club's Best American Film Directors list...

From A To Z, but if Zemeckis counts as a great director you should probably stop at Y.

Yes, yes. You're right. But, he really works in the American film industry, doesn't he? And I imagine most people consider his works to be American films. Perhaps I should have said "directors working in English-language film".