Rights holder / Distributor: Columbia Pictures
American scheme (American Hustle) is a 2013 American crime comedy-drama film directed by David O. Russell from a screenplay by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell. It was released in the United States on December 13, 2013.
Plot
Irving Rosenfeld is a skilled con artist who, along with his partner Sydney Prosser, profit from various financial schemes until they come under the attention of FBI agent Richie DiMaso. To avoid serious consequences, Irving and Sydney are forced to cooperate with the investigation and help catch other criminals. However, Richie's plan turns out to be much more extensive than the two initially suspected.
The operation leads them to Camden Mayor Carmine Polito, who is trying to attract investment and revitalize the city's economy. Between con artists, federal agents, politicians and people with unclear intentions, the line between truth and pretense begins to blur. The situation becomes even more complicated with the appearance of Rosalyn, Irving's wife, whose unpredictable behavior could ruin the entire operation.
Directing
David O. Russell builds the story as a combination of criminal intrigue, dark humor and a strong 1970s atmosphere. The clothes, hairstyles, music and sets are not just a backdrop, but an important part of the way the characters build their fictional identities. The director constantly changes the point of view and gives the impression that almost every character is hiding something from the others.
After The fighter and The Optimist's Handbook Russell is working again with Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, all of whom are given different roles. The film continues his interest in complex characters and unconventional relationships, but this time places them in a world of fraud, political deals, and federal operations. The visual style is more glamorous than that of his previous productions, without losing the sense of human insecurity and moral compromises.
Acting
Christian Bale is almost unrecognizable as Irving Rosenfeld, and he creates a character who is at once cunning, insecure, and deeply attached to those around him. The physical transformation is impressive, but more important are the small gestures and nervous energy with which the actor conveys the character's constant anxiety. Amy Adams is convincing as Sydney, who gradually transforms from a partner in fraud into a person with her own ambitions and plans.
Bradley Cooper creates Richie DiMaso as an ambitious agent who gets too caught up in his own operation and begins to lose track of where his professional role ends. Jennifer Lawrence is particularly memorable as Rosalyn, turning the character's impulsiveness and unpredictability into one of the sources of the strongest humor. Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Michael Peña and Alicia Keys complement the ensemble with well-defined secondary characters.
Conclusion
American scheme is a crime story in which deception is not limited to criminal schemes, but becomes a way of life. Each of the main characters tries to present a different version of themselves to the others, which creates constant uncertainty and tension. It is this game of identities that makes the film more interesting than a simple story about a federal investigation.
Among the production's strengths are the ensemble cast, the 1970s atmosphere, and the carefully constructed relationships between the characters. These are films where it's not enough to simply track who's deceiving whom, because personal motives gradually turn out to be just as important as the scheme itself. American scheme remains a typical representative of crime films with vivid characters, morally ambiguous decisions, and a strong acting presence.
