American Hustle (2013)

A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.

Director:

David O. Russell

Writers:

Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell

Stars:

Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper

Nominated for 10 Oscars. Another 74 wins & 134 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale	...	Irving Rosenfeld
Bradley Cooper	...	Richie DiMaso
Amy Adams	...	Sydney Prosser
Jeremy Renner	...	Mayor Carmine Polito
Jennifer Lawrence	...	Rosalyn Rosenfeld
Louis C.K.	...	Stoddard Thorsen
Jack Huston	...	Pete Musane
Michael Peña	...	Paco Hernandez / Sheik Abdullah
Shea Whigham	...	Carl Elway
Alessandro Nivola	...	Anthony Amado
Elisabeth Röhm	...	Dolly Polito (as Elisabeth Rohm)
Paul Herman	...	Alfonse Simone
Saïd Taghmaoui	...	Irv's Sheik Plant (as Said Taghmaoui)
Matthew Russell	...	Dominic Polito
Thomas Matthews	...	Francis Polito

Storyline

A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock our nation, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.

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Plot Keywords:

scam | con artist | sexual attraction | drunk wife | fbi investigation | 

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Taglines:

Everyone Hustles To Survive

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook [Brazil]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

20 December 2013 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Arnaque américaine

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$740,455 (USA) (13 December 2013)

Gross:

$150,117,807 (USA) (4 April 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Annapurna Pictures, Atlas Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (surveillance footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David O. Russell stated that Robert De Niro didn't recognize Christian Bale on the set even after they were introduced to each other. De Niro pulled Russell aside, pointed to Bale and asked who he was. First De Niro didn't believe it was Bale but after Russell convinced him of that De Niro noted, 'Wow, he looks really different", and nodded his head as a sign of approval. Russell then had to re-introduce the two now that De Niro knew who Bale was.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 12 mins) Irving's automobile is introduced as a blue 1977 Cadillac Eldorado. However, when Irving and his wife meet Mayor Polito and the casino financiers, Irving pulls up in a 1978 Cadillac Eldorado of the same color. You can tell it is a 1978 model because it has a thicker, boxier grille.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Richie DiMaso: What are you doing, going behind my back? Telling people I'm screwing up this operation? I got you a suite at the fucking Plaza Hotel.
Irving Rosenfeld: The shittiest suite at the Plaza Hotel.

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Crazy Credits

An opening title card states, "Some of this actually happened."

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: American Hustle/Walking with Dinosaurs 3D (2013)

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Soundtracks

Don't Leave Me This Way
Written by Kenny Gamble (as Kenneth Gamble), Cary Gilbert & Leon Huff
Performed by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Courtesy of Epic Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Excellent Direction and Performances

Set in New Jersey, American Hustle follows con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) along with his partner and lover Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) who get caught in one of their schemes by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). However, instead of imprisonment, DiMaso convinces the two to pull off their biggest heist yet on political operator Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Rosenfield agrees, while also trying to keep his eccentric wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) under control and unable to blow their cover.

Under the fabulous direction of David O.Russell, American Hustle looks and feels like a 70s con/mob film through and through. Everything from the set pieces, the costumes, and even the soundtrack completely brings you out of the present and thrown into the world being portrayed on screen. The story itself doesn't exactly bring anything new to the table as far as con artist sub genre, but everything else about it sets apart from any other film you'll see this year. We are given a group of characters that each have their own story to tell in the way they are presented to us. Even if a person viewing the film isn't exactly sold by the story, it's the characters that really help move the film along.

Along with the engaging characters, we have an outstanding cast that help bring them to life. Christian Bale does a good job as the lead as the slimy con man who thinks he's on the top of the world. Amy Adams plays his partner and lover and portrays the seductive role with ease. However, our two other leads give the best performances of the film. Bradley Cooper provides a lot of the comic relief in the film as the cop who coaxes the two con artists into the situation. He plays the cocky and at times crazy character who tries to use his charm to get what he wants, and Cooper nails it. Also providing comic relief is Jennifer Lawrence. At 22-years-old she's playing a role that requires her to act so much older than she actually is. As the wife of Bale's character, she plays the snooping and eccentric character so perfectly and just over-the- top enough to really believe it. She once again proves that she is the most talented young actress of her generation.

American Hustle is an excellent addition to the sub genre with excellent direction and a solid cast that help bring the story and setting to life and completely take you into the world you're watching portrayed.

My Rating: 9/10