American Hustle is a 2013 American black comedy crime film directed by David O. Russell. It was written by Eric Warren Singer and Russell, and was inspired by the FBI’s Abscam operation of the late 1970s and early 1980s.[6] The film stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams as two artists who are coerced by an FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) into setting up an elaborate sting operation targeting corrupt politicians, including the mayor of Camden, New Jersey (Jeremy Renner). Jennifer Lawrence plays Bale’s character’s unpredictable wife. Principal photography took place from March to May 2013 in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, as well as in New York City. Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence.
In 1978, Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser worked together as artists. Sydney, posing as British aristocrat “Lady Edith Greensly”, improves her scams. Irving loves Sydney but does not want to leave his wife Rosalyn, who is unstable and verbally abusive, for fear that he will lose contact with his adopted son Danny. Rosalyn also threatens to call the police if he leaves her.
FBI agent Richie DiMaso catches Irving and Sydney in a loan scam but offers to release them if Irving can arrest four more people. Richie believes Sydney is British but has evidence that her aristocratic claim is fraudulent. She tells Irving that she will manipulate Richie, which alienates her from Irving.
Irving has a friend who poses as a wealthy Arab cleric looking for potential investments in the United States. An associate of Irving’s claims that the cleric has business dealings with Mayor Carmine Polito of Camden, New Jersey, who is trying to revive the gambling industry in Atlantic City but is having trouble finding investors. Carmine seems genuinely interested in helping the local economy and his constituents.
Richie devises a plan to make Mayor Polito the target of a sting operation, despite objections from Irving and Richie’s boss, Stoddard Thorsen. Sydney Richie helps an FBI clerk conduct a $2 million illegal wire transfer. When Stoddard’s boss, Anthony Amado, hears about the operation, he compliments Richie’s initiative, urging Stoddard to continue.
Carmine leaves the meeting when Richie pressures him to accept a bribe. Irving convinces Carmine that the Sheikh is legitimate, expresses his dislike for Richie, and they become friends. Richie arranges for Carmine to meet the Sheikh, and without consulting the others, has Mexican-American FBI agent Paco Hernandez pose as the Sheikh, much to Irving’s displeasure.
Carmine takes the Sheikh to a casino party, explaining that the Mafia is there and that it is an integral part of the business. Irving is surprised to hear that Mafia boss Victor Tellegio, Meyer Lansky’s right-hand man, is also present and wants to meet the Sheikh. Tellegio explains that the cleric needs to become an American citizen, and Carmine will need to speed up the process. Tellegio also demands a wire transfer of $10 million to prove the cleric’s legitimacy.
Richie confesses to being strongly attracted to Sydney but becomes flustered and aggressive when she drops her British accent and admits she is from Albuquerque. Rosalyn begins an affair with gangster Pete Musane, whom she meets at the party. She says she believes Irving is working for the IRS, prompting Pete to threaten Irving, who promises to prove the cleric’s investment is real.
Irving then confronts Rosalyn, who admits to telling Pete and agrees to keep quiet but wants a divorce. With Carmine’s help, Richie and Irving film members of Congress accepting bribes. Richie attacks Stoddard during an argument over money and then convinces Amado that he needs $10 million to get Tellegio, but he only gets $2 million. A meeting is arranged at Tellegio’s lawyer Alfonse Simone’s office, but Tellegio fails to show.
Irving goes to Carmine and admits to the fraud but says he plans to help. Carmine kicks Irving out, and the loss of their friendship leaves Irving devastated. Federal agents inform Irving that their $2 million is missing and that they have received an anonymous offer to return the money in exchange for immunity for Irving and Sydney and a reduced sentence for Carmine.
Alfonse Simone, the man Richie arranged the wire transfer for, is a man who worked with Irving and Sydney. Amado accepts the deal, and Stoddard drops Richie from the case, ending his career. The congressmen are indicted, and so is Carmine, who is sentenced to 18 months in prison. Irving and Sydney move in together and open a legitimate art gallery, while Rosalyn lives with Pete and shares custody of Danny with Irving.
