Steve O'Neill – Google

Great story, great cast. You may think the scammers are getting scammed, and the scammers are getting used, but maybe the scammers know they’re getting scammed and used and they scam the scammers who are trying to scam them and use the users who are trying to use them. It’s called a drama, but is that a scam and it’s really a comedy? This film would be worth it for the average red-blooded male just to see the many ways that Amy Adams can show her cleavage and the many ways that Jennifer Lawrence can be adorably attractive, but they also happen to be terrific actresses. Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale are also terrific, as is Jeremy Renner in a supporting role. And the substantial surprise cameo by an acting impresario is wonderful. The film is nothing less than a masterpiece of rollicking entertainment.

Virtually none of the characters is at all likable. Certainly none of the family members. Apparently this is a true story, so maybe they were all this wretched in real life. If so, why bother telling the story? Scenes are dragged out with a lot of silent staring at each other or into space, as if they couldn’t quite figure out how to fill the allotted time. The story line jumps around so much it’s often difficult to follow not to mention annoying. It seems as if the producers could have told the story in about eight episodes, but HBO said, no, we need 28 episodes, so figure out how to drag it on interminably. I will say that Colin Firth proves he has great range by showing he can play a detestable self-centered jerk very effectively.