American Hustle

A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most extraordinary scandals of the , tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper).

American Hustle also features strong performances by several actors in supporting roles, with Louis C.K. as Cooper's FBI superior, Stoddard Thorsen; Michael Peña as FBI Agent Paco Hernandez, who poses as the fake Sheik Abdullah; Alessandro Nivola as Anthony Amado, Chief U.S. Prosecutor, Special Task Force; Jack Huston as Pete Musane, a mobster with an interest in Atlantic City; and Elisabeth Röhm as Polito's wife, Dolly.

American Hustle also features strong performances by several actors in supporting roles, with Louis C.K. as Cooper’s FBI superior, Stoddard Thorsen; Michael Peña as FBI Agent Paco Hernandez, who poses as the fake Sheik Abdullah; Alessandro Nivola as Anthony Amado, Chief U.S. Prosecutor, Special Task Force; Jack Huston as Pete Musane, a mobster with an interest in Atlantic City; and Elisabeth Röhm as Polito’s wife, Dolly.

American Hustle marks the third part in a three-film evolution for director David O. Russell. Beginning with The Fighter, continuing with Silver Linings Playbook, and playing out on a larger canvas than ever before in American Hustle, Russell centers on characters who are trying to change their lives through a process of reinvention.

American Hustle began with screenwriter Eric Warren Singer, who approached Roven and Suckle about making a film about the Abscam story for Atlas Entertainment and wrote a script that earned a spot on the Black List.

All con artists are gifted story tellers in their own right — which is why I am drawn to them,” says Singer. “We share a similar craft: telling the tale, drawing in an audience as you would a mark. Good storytelling is as much of a seduction as any con.

Christian Bale reunites with David O. Russell to take on the role of Irving Rosenfeld, a hustler and a romantic. “I never met a more charming character than Christian playing Irving,” says Amy Adams, who plays Sydney Prosser.

Jennifer Lawrence reunites with Russell to play Irving’s estranged wife Rosalyn, an unstable Long Island housewife who is the opposite of Adams’ elegant Sydney. For the target of the sting, Russell cast Jeremy Renner as Carmine Polito, a New Jersey politician who sees an opportunity to remake the run down, working class region – if he can find the right investor.

Russell relied on his longtime collaborator, production designer Judy Becker, to bring about the look he desired for the film. Becker was excited by the opportunity. Her research, combined with the screenplay, inspired her to build unique worlds for the characters that expresses who they are. But it wasn’t just the chance to re-team with one of her most cherished collaborators that excited her – she was also drawn to the film by the fact that it is set in in the 1970s.

With the film set in the 1970s, costume designer Michael Wilkinson had a chance to express the decade’s distinctive design through the film’s fashion. His designs further expressed the film’s theme: characters remaking themselves, transforming themselves into the people they aspire to be.

Music is a very important part of any David O. Russell film, and American Hustle is no exception. With the film set in the 1970s, Russell and his music supervisor, Susan Jacobs, weave in a variety of classic tracks, deep cuts, and new twists on old favorites. Jacobs tells that Russell often writes with specific cues in mind – and sometimes, those cues will make their way straight through to the final film.

MoreMovieDetails

All Posts
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Share this article: American Hustle

Facebook
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Email

MORE TOPICS

A Better Life

From Chris Weitz, director of About a Boy and producer of A Single Man and In Good Company, comes A Better Life – a poignant, multi-generational story about a father’s love and everything a parent will sacrifice to build a better life for his child. The movie stars Demian Bichir and José Julián and was written by Roger L. Simon.

Max

A precision-trained military dog, Max serves on the frontlines in Afghanistan. But when things go terribly wrong on maneuvers and Max is traumatized by the loss of his best friend, he is unable to remain in service.

The Duff

The DUFF explores the perils of the high school landscape in a world where social media is an unavoidable part of daily life. Bianca must navigate the pain of being categorized, not just in private, but also in public. The cast was keenly aware of the importance of shining a light on this current issue in a humorous package.

Long Shot

Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she’s a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for…well, mostly everything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush.

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Ben Fountain, is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour.