High energy comedic drama.

Rating: 7/10 (29 March 2014)

I think I was expecting too much. First of all; there is director David O. Russell and then the biggest draw for me...Jennifer Lawrence. This movie is a fictionalization of the much-to-do scandal of an FBI operation called ABSCAM. It was stunning and very news worthy in the early 1970s. Brilliant con-man Irving Rosenfield(Christian Bale), running several fraudulent businesses and over confident in his ability to deceive people, falls in love with a stripper named Sydney(Amy Adams). Although married to a very flirtatious wife Rosalyn(Lawrence), who lounges at home with her small son; Irving teams with Sydney to scam money from needy businessmen. During such activity they are busted by an over achieving FBI agent, Richie DiMaso(Bradley Cooper), who in turn influences Irving to avoid jail time by carrying out sting operations with his beautiful partner. The FBI is wanting to catch white collar criminals and one of their biggest targets is Carmine Polito(Jeremy Rener), the very popular and flamboyant mayor of Camden, New Jersey. Irving and Sydney use Polito to lure corrupt politicians to accept bribes in a high dollar hotel room. But there is a fly in the ointment; attention deprived Rosalyn's chatter may put the whole operation in jeopardy.
This very watchable film is quirky and funny and filled with high, but scattered energy. Realistic period scenes, sets and music. Greed, adultery, jealousy and a bit of violence with very little sympathy. Bale and Lawrence transformed themselves into characters excellently. Adams is sultry without even trying. Also in the cast: C.K. Louis, Elisabeth Rohm, Michael Pena, Jack Huston, Anthony Zerbe and Robert De Niro.