American Hustle Information

American Hustle is an upcoming crime drama film directed by David O. Russell, from a screenplay written by Eric Warren Singer and Russell based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is scheduled to be released on December 18, 2013 (in limited release December 13, 2013) by Annapurna Pictures. It was filmed in Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, and New York City, United States.

Plot

A brilliant con man, Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his British partner and lover, but frightened newbie grifter, Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), are recruited and forced to work for a wild and manic FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), who pushes and pressures them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that is as dangerous as it is enchanting. The operation eventually involves the Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's wild-card wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence), could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down.

Cast

Main

• Christian Bale as Irving Rosenfeld, a swaggering and brilliant con man, with an impressive comb-over, who is pressured into aiding the FBI by an agent to ensnare a group of corrupt politicians on the take. He hustles as a way of life.
• Bradley Cooper as Richie DiMaso, an unhinged, undisciplined, out-of-control, and eager FBI agent who enlists Irving for a sting operation. He hustles for respect.
• Amy Adams as Sydney Prosser, Irving's equally cunning and seductive Machiavellian British partner in crime and mercurial mistress, who proves to be as smooth and duplicitous as the con man, but frightened as a newbie grifter. She spins through accents and identities with such deftness that even those closest to her wonder who she truly is as a sexy and dynamic grifter. She hustles for love.
• Jeremy Renner as Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile political operator and shady mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey, who moves in a world of political corruption, while caught between the con-artists and Feds. He hustles for the truth.
• Jennifer Lawrence as Rosalyn Rosenfeld, the gorgeous, reckless, big-mouthed, and unpredictable wife of Irving who could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down. She hustles to survive.

Supporting

• Robert De Niro as Victor Tellegio
• Louis C.K. as Stoddard Thorsen
• Michael Peña as Paco Hernandez
• Jack Huston as Pete Musane
• Elisabeth Röhm as Dolly Polito
• Erica McDermott as Addie Abrams
• Melissa McMeekin as Sabrina
• Colleen Camp as Brenda
• Alessandro Nivola
• Dawn Olivieri

Production

Development

Originally titled "American Bullshit", Eric Warren Singer's screenplay was #8 on the 2010 Black List of unproduced screenplays. The film was set up at Sony Pictures Entertainment with Charles Roven and Richard Suckle producing through Atlas Entertainment and was initially considered by Ben Affleck to direct, before David O. Russell ultimately signed on to helm the film.

Production

Principal photography started on March 8, 2013 and wrapped in May 2013. The film was shot using locations in and around Boston, Massachusetts (such as in Worcester) and New York. Filming had to be put on hold in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings with the city in lockdown. After lockdown was lifted, the film wrapped its Boston shoot and spent its final few days of production in New York City.

Release

Director David O. Russell released the teaser trailer for the film on July 31, 2013, and a theatrical trailer was released on October 9, 2013. The film is scheduled to have a limited release in the United States on December 13, 2013 with a national release on December 25, 2013. The film is set for release in the UK on December 20, 2013.