An all-star cast light up this glittering con caper from the director of Silver Linings Playbook.
Seventies scam artists Irving (Christian Bale) and Sydney (Amy Adams) make a great team. They might make a great couple, too, but Irving can't bear to leave his son with reckless wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), who refuses to get a divorce.
Though Irving can't give Sydney the commitment she craves, the pair are about to be thrust closer together than ever in their biggest job to date. When terrier-like FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) catches Irving and Sydney in a scam, he forces them to participate in a risky scheme to entrap New Jersey mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner).
Following recent successes with Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter, David O. Russell again made an impact on awards season, earning ten Oscar nominations and three BAFTAs for this glamorous crime comedy.
There's an air of Scorsese about this tricksy romp that takes advantage of its 70s setting to have fun with (BAFTA winning) hair and make-up and a joyous soundtrack. While half the fun is seeing this top-drawer cast decked out in period garb, their obvious talent shines through, with Lawrence earning her second consecutive BAFTA. There's also some cracking dialogue and consistent laughs in a script that won the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay.
American Hustle is a Film programme that first aired in 2013 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
