American Hustle: Conning Congress

David O. Russell's latest movie, American Hustle, is a look at the players involved in the Abscam scandal, when the FBI arrested several prominent politicians on corruption charges. However, the FBI was aided in this operation by joining forces with a con man, a complicated proposition that came with its own risks.

Russell has assembled an all-star cast from his repertoire, all of whom deliver pitch-perfect performances. Christian Bale plays Irving Rosenfeld, a con man who is busted by the FBI for low-level fraud but offered immunity if he will help ambitious FBI agent Richie Di Maso (Bradley Cooper) catch some bigger fish. Amy Adams plays Sydney Prosser, Irving's mistress and partner in crime who pretends to be an English aristocrat in order to lure unsuspecting marks. Complicating matters is Irving's nervy wife, Rosalyn, played by the reliably excellent Jennifer Lawrence, who knows her husband is up to no good, and threatens to expose him as the scam gets increasingly complicated.

What starts as a small operation develops into a political minefield, and once the Mafia gets involved, Irving starts to develop cold feet. Luckily, he's a con man, and you'll be on the edge of your seat as you watch him and Sydney try to con their way out of this dangerous situation. This movie will probably resonate more with that portion of the audience that actually remember the Abscam scandal, but it is entertaining even if you weren't around during the actual events depicted in the film. The playful soundtrack, elaborate perms, and outlandish outfits set the scene immediately and the movie proceeds at a quick clip, efficiently establishing the various players and the intricate details of this complex operation.

American Hustle is an excellent caper film, full of twists and turns and ever-escalating stakes. The performances are stellar, with a cast that is clearly at the top of its game. David O. Russell's direction is deft, the script packs a punch, and the movie just looks and feels authentic. This year has featured many movies based on actual events, and American Hustle is yet more proof that the truth is often stranger than fiction.