Boredom, boldness and a proper mark — those are the three ingredients shared by today’s category of “American” criminal films. It matters not if it’s New York in the ’70s or a sleepy college campus in 2004; flying too close to the sun for that big score is apparently a national pastime.

We start the episode in the true crime realm with a discussion of the new film “American Animals” and the dramatization of its stranger-than-fiction premise. Chance interviews director Bart Layton to ask about connecting with the real people who tried to steal $12 million worth of rare books and the world view of the four young men who seemingly set out to create havoc in their lives.

Then, it’s on to “American Made,” last year’s Tom Cruise extravaganza. We consider whether this silly, slippery movie is a proper crime epic or a just ridiculous highlight reel of faux-history. And speaking of faux-history, we wrap up with “American Hustle,” revisiting the film five years after we were both initially dazzled by its star-studded cast and lively David O. Russell script. Don’t con yourself; just press play.