American Hustle

"American Hustle" is a 2013 crime film directed by David O. Russell, which revolves around a brilliant con artist named Irving Rosenfeld, played by Christian Bale, and his equally cunning partner and lover, Sydney Prosser, portrayed by Amy Adams.

Irving and Sydney are forced to work for an ambitious FBI agent, Richie DiMaso, played by Bradley Cooper, who catches them in a scam. In exchange for their freedom, Irving and Sydney agree to help Richie in a major operation to expose corruption in the political world.

The trio's target is Carmine Polito, a passionate and charismatic mayor of Camden, New Jersey, played by Jeremy Renner. The plan involves using a fictional Arab sheikh to lure politicians and public officials into accepting bribes in exchange for political favors.

By assembling a star-studded cast from his previous movies, director David O. Russell hits the jackpot once again with "American Hustle." Loosely inspired by the infamous "ABSCAM" sting of the late 1970s, the film takes cues from "Boogie Nights" in its use of music and its authentic recreation of the era. Despite being rooted in a scandal that made headlines worldwide, Russell's focus remains firmly on the small group of captivating characters at the heart of the story.

Cons are the name of the game in "American Hustle" - from small-time swindles to government-sponsored scams, and twists that see David outsmarting Goliath. The characters are constantly donning disguises, sporting elaborate hairstyles, adopting fake accents, and weaving intricate fantasies where they take center stage, which cleverly flips the usual disdainful portrayal of bribed government officials.

Release: 2013

Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%