An intelligent and funny movie with a great cast!

Rating: 10/10 (7 May 2014)

"American Hustle" is a comedy/drama film that tells the story of Irving Rosenfeld, a con artist, and his partner Sydney Prosser, who are forced to aid FBI agent Richie DiMaso in setting up a sting operation on corrupt politicians in exchange for their release.
The movie is partially based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970's and early 1980's. The characters featured in the movie are fictionalized versions of their real-life counterparts.
The movie is directed by David O. Russell and stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner. The original script by O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer combines elements of drama and comedy to present the story of Irving Rosenfeld, since his early little crimes as a child to his adult life as a con artist, which led to his forced involvement in the sting operation.
David O. Russell wrote the principal characters having in mind the actors that would portray them, that's why each character fits each actor perfectly. The main cast does an excellent job, Christian Bale as Irving Rosenfeld, the intelligent and resourceful con artist; Amy Adams as Sydney Prosser, Rosenfeld's seductive and equally intelligent partner; Bradley Cooper as Richie DiMaso, the ambitious FBI agent; Jennifer Lawrence, always amazing, as Rosalyn Rosenfeld, Irving's unpredictable wife and Jeremy Renner as Carmine Polito, the naïve mayor from Camden, New Jersey. The film presents a character-driven story that is greatly benefited by the excellent direction of David O. Russell, who encouraged the cast to improvise throughout the shooting of the movie, which is what made the final result so unique.
All this elements make "American Hustle" a great film, a movie that manages to be both intelligent and funny.