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Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence reunite with David O. Russell for standout caper comedy AMERICAN HUSTLE

Many movie decisions today revolve around action concepts, comic book superheroes, teen fantasy adaptations and what plays well with international moviegoers. Is it any wonder that complex characters and multi-layered storytelling get lost in translation?

Abscam, or Abdul scam, the 1980 FBI sting operation that caught corrupt government officials including a New Jersey mayor, a U.S. Senator and members of the House of Representatives via a fake Arab sheik, casino license payoffs, bribes and suitcases stuffed with cash is no comic book. It’s a true story too outrageous for words and the inspiration for the holiday season’s best comic drama. I like superheroes just fine but I enjoy battling con artists, gangsters, FBI agents and money-grabbing politicians better.

Filmmaker David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) and co-writer Eric Singer (The International) draw inspiration from Abscam for American Hustle, the tale of ambitious FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) partnering with con artists Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) and Rosenfeld’s wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) in order to snare Camden, New Jersey Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) and other politicians for taking bribes from their make-believe sheik (Michael Peña).

Russell continues to be one of Hollywood’s best storytellers when it comes to adult fare. Taking a small step away from the working-class Philly locale of Silver Linings Playbook, Russell lands in working-class New Jersey and mixes laughs, emotional drama along with the thrills of a great caper tale. The result is moviemaking excellence.

Christian Bale, so gritty and intense in the underappreciated drama Out of the Furnace, shows a more playful side as Rosenfeld, an expert con man determined to outsmart his FBI partners.

Bale, the man behind Batman’s cowl to most moviegoers, is an adventurous actor and true risk-taker in roles from crack addict Dicky Eklund in Russell’s The Fighter to horror movie The Machinist and the war drama Rescue Dawn

Bale’s rich performance (richer thanks to his hilarious pot belly) perfectly captures the dance of emotional drama and high comedy that swirls throughout American Hustle. His performance is full of surprises in a movie stuffed with clever twists and unexpected turns.

Amy Adams is smart, sexy and surprisingly vulnerable as Sydney Prosser, a talented con in her own right but extra sly with Rosenfeld at her side. Adams delivers the film’s most dynamic performance by steadily revealing that there’s more to Sydney than her posh British accent and beautiful clothes.

Jennifer Lawrence provides some of the film’s biggest laughs as Rosalyn, Rosenfeld’s firecracker wife who goes nose-to-nose with her husband’s con artist girlfriend or anyone else who crosses her path. Rosalyn is something of a one-note character when compared to Lawrence’s work in Winter’s Bone, Silver Linings Playbook (with Russell at the helm) as well her heroic performances in the Hunger Games movies but it’s the funniest one-note performance in recent memory.

Bradley Cooper matches his flamboyant co-stars every step of the way as DiMaso, am ambitious FBI agent far above his pay grade and easily outsmarted by the cons around him. Cooper, who embraces the film’s 1980 setting via a tight Jheri curl hairdo, also brings necessary heartache to the movie because all con games require a fall guy and in this case he’s that guy.

Still, after enjoying all the amazing performances, including supporting turns from Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K. and Robert De Niro in an un-credited role, the rightful credit for all that’s wonderful about the movie lands with Russell and his talented filmmaking crew.

The Abscam story is great source material but Russell has the storytelling talent for capturing all its laughter and heartache.

Russell is also choosy filmmaker who’s walked away from numerous projects in the past. Still, when he lands on something it more often than not turns out to be movie gold.