New clips from two highly anticipated awards contenders that (in one way or another) revolve around the American Dream have been released.  A new clip from director Martin Scorsese’s dark comedy The Wolf of Wall Street chronicles the first time that Leonardo DiCaprio’s hard-partying, drug-addicted stockbroker Jordan Belfort meets Margot Robbie’s Naomi, who eventually became Belfort’s second wife.  The film opens on Christmas Day.

A new clip from director David O. Russell’s comedic drama American Hustle also focuses on a burgeoning relationship.  It comes from a scene early in the film when the con artist duo of Christian Bale and Amy Adams first begin their courtship, and it nicely conveys the tone of the film.  You can read Matt’s review of the film right here.  American Hustle is now playing in limited release and opens nationwide tomorrow, December 20th.  Hit the jump to watch both clips.

Via Yahoo! Movies.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Wolf of Wall Street:

Revered filmmaker Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).   From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s.  Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title – “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

Money.  Power.  Women.  Drugs.  Temptations were for the taking and the threat of authority was irrelevant.  For Jordan and his wolf pack, modesty was quickly deemed overrated and more was never enough.

Via Sony Pictures.

Here’s the official synopsis for American Hustle:

A fictional film set in the alluring world of one of the most stunning scandals to rock our nation, American Hustle tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper).  DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that’s as dangerous as it is enchanting.  Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down. Like David O. Russell’s previous films, American Hustle defies genre, hinging on raw emotion, and life and death stakes.