Hustlers - Review
Director: Lorene Scafaria
Cast: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Julia Stiles, Lili Reinhart, Lizzo, Cardi B
Having endured a summer where an onslaught of sequels and tent pole films dominated the box-office, the arrival of writer-director Lorene Scafaria's Hustlers (based on an acclaimed New York Magazine feature) provides a much needed dose of refreshing indulgence by telling a story that feels comfortingly familiar and simultaneously wildly subversive.
In order to make ends meet, Destiny (Wu) begins working as a stripper in a New York City night club. New and inexperienced, Destiny is befriended by and taken under Ramona's (Lopez) wing, the top earner and most in demand out of all the dancers. After the financial crisis diminishes their income, Ramona convinces Destiny and two other dancers to indulge in her scheme to fleece the wealthy Wall Street clientele who frequent the club.
The core bond and sisterhood that the women develop is unlike any dynamic that you'll see, or have seen, on screen. Our four prominent women who lead and operate the advantageous scam provide both the heart and the hustle of the film; Wu is undoubtedly the protagonist, undergoing the greatest shift from a naive and unconfident young woman to a resourceful and ambitious mother with an entrepreneurial and good-natured spirit. Reinhart and Palmer's characters suffer from lack of exposure and largely serve to allow other characters to shine, but both actresses steal memorable moments when they can.
However, despite all of the talent on display, it's Lopez's star that shines the brightest as she cements her movie-star status and establishes her legacy as one of the most compelling leads in Hollywood. Lopez's first appearance on screen when Ramona takes to the pole, and is subsequently showered with an eye-watering volume of paper bills, is the year's most enthralling character introduction and the actress continues to thrive as the narrative ensues.
Scafaria, best known for 2015 film The Meddler starring Susan Sarandon, proves the perfect director to guide the audience through this thrilling and morally dubious scenario. Positioning all of the characters in control of their own decisions and framing the world of strip clubs like any other work space (including politics, difficult customers, unfair bosses and hierarchies), Scafaria skilfully removes the sleaze and sexual gaze from the environment and filters it all through a rational female lens.
A seductive, soulful and relentlessly entertaining tribute to the power of women in front of and behind the camera, Hustlers is a truly unmissable film.
EB
Cast: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Julia Stiles, Lili Reinhart, Lizzo, Cardi B
In order to make ends meet, Destiny (Wu) begins working as a stripper in a New York City night club. New and inexperienced, Destiny is befriended by and taken under Ramona's (Lopez) wing, the top earner and most in demand out of all the dancers. After the financial crisis diminishes their income, Ramona convinces Destiny and two other dancers to indulge in her scheme to fleece the wealthy Wall Street clientele who frequent the club.
The core bond and sisterhood that the women develop is unlike any dynamic that you'll see, or have seen, on screen. Our four prominent women who lead and operate the advantageous scam provide both the heart and the hustle of the film; Wu is undoubtedly the protagonist, undergoing the greatest shift from a naive and unconfident young woman to a resourceful and ambitious mother with an entrepreneurial and good-natured spirit. Reinhart and Palmer's characters suffer from lack of exposure and largely serve to allow other characters to shine, but both actresses steal memorable moments when they can.
However, despite all of the talent on display, it's Lopez's star that shines the brightest as she cements her movie-star status and establishes her legacy as one of the most compelling leads in Hollywood. Lopez's first appearance on screen when Ramona takes to the pole, and is subsequently showered with an eye-watering volume of paper bills, is the year's most enthralling character introduction and the actress continues to thrive as the narrative ensues.
Scafaria, best known for 2015 film The Meddler starring Susan Sarandon, proves the perfect director to guide the audience through this thrilling and morally dubious scenario. Positioning all of the characters in control of their own decisions and framing the world of strip clubs like any other work space (including politics, difficult customers, unfair bosses and hierarchies), Scafaria skilfully removes the sleaze and sexual gaze from the environment and filters it all through a rational female lens.
A seductive, soulful and relentlessly entertaining tribute to the power of women in front of and behind the camera, Hustlers is a truly unmissable film.
EB
Comments
Post a Comment