American Hustle
Crime
|
Drama
1978. When Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser meet, there is an instant
emotional connection since they can see in the other someone like
him/herself in what each wants in life. Both come from humble
backgrounds, but are striving for a better life. They embark on a sexual
relationship, despite Irving already being married to the brash and
uncultured Rosalyn Rosenfeld, who he probably will not divorce for not
wanting to leave her son, Danny Rosenfeld, who he has adopted and who he
would not want to leave alone with his largely unfit mother. When
Irving tells her, Sydney, to his surprise, is not repulsed but rather
attracted to the fact that besides his legitimate businesses, he is also
a con artist, specifically in loan scams which net him $5,000 per mark.
Sydney believes she can help his scams by pretending to be British Lady
Edith Greensley who has London banking connections. In doing so, she
does indeed vastly improve the scams and their take. However, one of
their marks ends up being Richie DiMaso, a low level FBI agent trying to
make his mark in the agency, he and his team who pulled a sting on
them. Richie knows that Sydney is not a Lady and does not have London
banking connections but does believe she is a Brit named Edith
Greensley. Richie makes a deal for them to help him nab four additional
white collar criminals for their ultimate release without charges.
Ultimately, Richie talks them into bigger fish than was originally
intended in nabbing politicians and mobsters as the opportunity arises.
Their initial target is Camden, New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito, who is
trying to revitalize Atlantic City as a gambling mecca, which requires
an influx of investments in the millions. But in getting these offshore
investments (which in reality don't exist), the bigger fish include
congressmen and senators, who may be taking bribes in this
revitalization, and a mobster named Victor Tellegio, the right hand man
of Meyer Lansky.
Beyond their marks finding out what they're doing which could be
especially deadly in Tellegio's case, their collective problems include:
Stoddard Thorsen, Richie's immediate supervisor, who denies Richie's
expensive requests one after another in completing the sting
convincingly; Rosalyn, who has her own self-interest as her primary
focus even at the possible expense of Irving's life; and Sydney's
relationship with Richie, who she initially seduces to keep him close
"just in case", but with who she may really be falling in love.
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