As revealed by Box Office Mojo, David O. Russell’s ABSCAM flick is now officially titled American Hustle. The FBI thriller-drama was originally titled American Bullshit, but producers agreed to go with the more marketable title.
Production had been taking place in Boston, and had to be shut down temporarily during the manhunt after the Boston Marathon bombings. Several of the cast members, including Bradley Cooper, went to the hospital to visit with survivors.
American Hustle, written by David O. Russell and Eric Singer, is inspired by the true 1970’s ABSCAM scandal, an FBI sting operation that eventually led to the convictions of a senator, five U.S. Representatives, and several other public servants for corruption. In the film, con-man Irving Rosenfeld, played Christian Bale – who won an Oscar the last time he worked with Russell (The Fighter) – and his partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are forced to work with wild and wayward Federal Agent Richie Di Masso (Bradley Cooper) to out corrupt politicians and other cons.
Caught between the con artists and the Feds, is the volatile Mayor of the impoverished city of Camden, New Jersey, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker). The only person more dangerous than the Mayor, is Irving Rosenfeld’s loose cannon wife, played by Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook).
All told, it’s an impressive cast of Oscar winners and Russell exes (five of the leads have worked with Russell before), and expectations for the film are high. Annapurna Pictures, the company behind Spring Breakers and Zero Dark Thirty, will be releasing the film December 25, 2013
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