American Hustle

A closer look at the story

In a story set in the 1970s and inspired by real events, master con man Irving Rosenfeld and his seductive, clever partner Sydney Prosser are caught by Richie DiMaso, an ambitious and unpredictable FBI agent. They have only one way to stay out of prison: working for the FBI. Their task is to lure other skilled operators into a trap. But DiMaso's ever-growing ambition drags them into the world of New Jersey's powerful politicians, Mayor Carmine Polito and the Mafia. As a plan that starts out innocent and clever gradually spins out of control, Rosalyn Rosenfeld complicates matters even further. Directed by David O. Russell, who wrote it with Eric Warren Singer, the 138-minute 2013 film stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence in a crime drama.