http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqhvJrcMV9c
On the first day of class, I read aloud my in-class exercise where we were asked to write, as loyal to memory as possible, an unforgettable scene from a film. The one that immediately popped into my head was the opening scene from American Hustle. Everyone who's seen the movie will probably (I hope) agree that it was an entertaining opener to an entertaining movie, but only when I rewatched it several more times on YouTube I realized how subtly ingenious it is. In almost 2 minutes, we are introduced to a character--and a particular aspect of that character, namely that he puts on a fake combover every morning as part of his daily routine--and we get a preview of the film's major themes right from the get-go. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that the putting-on of the fake hair is a metaphor for the presentation of a fake self to the world, which is how the struggling characters get by. Images, illusions and lies. Notice how twice in the opening, we think we are looking at the real Irving as he glues and pats his tufts into place, when the camera zooms out to reveal that the whole image was actually in the mirror. Images, illusions and lies. How brilliant.
I haven't watched American Hustle yet but I watched this scene. You're right, in just two short minutes it introduces the viewer to the major themes of the movie (I think). I enjoyed your description of this scene on our first day in class and I really like your explanation here.
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