Watch American Hustle

American Hustle is a 2013 crime-comedy movie directed by David O. Russell and starring an ensemble cast of Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner. The movie is set in the 1970s and is loosely based on the real-life Abscam scandal, a sting operation by the FBI that targeted corrupt public officials.

The plot of the movie revolves around con artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), who are forced to work for FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) after getting caught in a scam. DiMaso wants to use their expertise to catch corrupt politicians and businessmen, but the stakes get higher as the operation spirals out of control.

Christian Bale gives a remarkable performance as Irving Rosenfeld, a balding, pot-bellied conman who scams gullible people with fake loan schemes. His relationship with Sydney Prosser, played by Amy Adams, adds an emotional depth to the movie as Sydney's loyalty is tested when she gets attracted to Richie DiMaso, the FBI agent played by Bradley Cooper.

Cooper, who sports a quirky hairstyle and a thick New York accent, is convincing as the ambitious FBI agent who wants to make a name for himself by taking down corrupt officials. Jeremy Renner plays Mayor Carmine Polito, a charismatic and well-meaning politician who gets caught in the middle of the FBI sting. Renner's performance is one of the highlights of the movie, adding a layer of sympathy to a character that could have been one-dimensional.

Jennifer Lawrence, who won an Oscar for her role in Russell's previous movie, Silver Linings Playbook, plays Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn. Lawrence's performance is a tour-de-force as she steals every scene she's in. Rosalyn is a character who is simultaneously hilarious and terrifying, a volatile force of nature who has the power to throw a wrench into all of Irving's plans.

The movie is a feast for the senses, with its colorful costumes, retro soundtrack and production design that perfectly captures the look and feel of the 1970s. The cinematography by Linus Sandgren is particularly impressive, with its use of low-angle shots and close-ups that bring the characters to life.

The screenplay, written by Russell and Eric Singer, is funny, suspenseful and emotionally engaging. The dialogue is sharp and witty, with each character having their own unique voice. The movie also explores themes of identity, loyalty, and power, as the characters navigate the murky waters of the criminal underworld and the FBI.

Overall, American Hustle is a well-written, well-acted and well-directed movie that is worth watching for its ensemble cast alone. It's a movie that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time, with characters that are complex and fully realized. If you're a fan of crime movies, comedies or character-driven dramas, then American Hustle is definitely worth checking out.

American Hustle is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 90.