Hustlers * * *
I don't mind strippers and strip clubs, I've got no problem with hookers and brothels, internet porn and all the rest of it. As long as everyone is consenting adults and keeping their activities to themselves. Live and let live and each to their own as far as I'm concerned.
So I'm not judging this film on moral grounds, although in a way I am. Director Lorena Scafaria wrote the script after reading a magazine article. About ten years ago a group of New York strippers fell on hard times after the financial crisis. Suddenly the Wall Street boys weren't throwing hundreds of dollars at them every night. So they resorted to more devious means to extract cash from the customers. Like spiking his drink, taking his credit card and then maxing it out. What they discovered is that the client would rather wear the loss than report it and admit where he was and what he was doing. Having learnt that it is unlikely their victims would not report them they kept this scam going for quite a while.
The trouble is Hustlers tries to present itself as some kind of Grrrrlll power movie and tries to endear the protagonists to the audience by having them justify their conduct with a myriad of excuses, like their victims deserve it. Well, maybe a few of them do but maybe a lot of them don't. Besides, two wrongs don't make a right. The Robin Hood analogy just ain't working here.
To make us like them more the story shows the girls not just buying expensive clothes, guzzling champagne and giving each other high fives, but also spoiling their kids and looking after Grandma.
By half way through this film I was kind of over them. Like a lapdance itself I suppose: I began to find the whole thing embarrassing, awkward, uncomfortable and condescending, and was kind of wishing it would finish.
It stars Jennifer Lopez (and her brilliant make-up crew - well, she is 50!) and Constance Wu who seems to want to shake off the "nice girl" image she got from Crazy Rich Asians. She is better in this, I'll give her that, even if she does portray a horrible person. In fact all the acting is pretty good, credit where due, and so is the directing and screenplay. It's well done.
But for all that, it feels about as worthy as the disposable magazine article it originated from.
This is sure to be director Lorena Scafaria's most commercially successful film, which is unfortunate because her previous films, The Meddler and Seeking a Friend for the end of the World were much, much better.
So I'm not judging this film on moral grounds, although in a way I am. Director Lorena Scafaria wrote the script after reading a magazine article. About ten years ago a group of New York strippers fell on hard times after the financial crisis. Suddenly the Wall Street boys weren't throwing hundreds of dollars at them every night. So they resorted to more devious means to extract cash from the customers. Like spiking his drink, taking his credit card and then maxing it out. What they discovered is that the client would rather wear the loss than report it and admit where he was and what he was doing. Having learnt that it is unlikely their victims would not report them they kept this scam going for quite a while.
 |
| Trust us darling. We're professionals. |
To make us like them more the story shows the girls not just buying expensive clothes, guzzling champagne and giving each other high fives, but also spoiling their kids and looking after Grandma.
By half way through this film I was kind of over them. Like a lapdance itself I suppose: I began to find the whole thing embarrassing, awkward, uncomfortable and condescending, and was kind of wishing it would finish.
It stars Jennifer Lopez (and her brilliant make-up crew - well, she is 50!) and Constance Wu who seems to want to shake off the "nice girl" image she got from Crazy Rich Asians. She is better in this, I'll give her that, even if she does portray a horrible person. In fact all the acting is pretty good, credit where due, and so is the directing and screenplay. It's well done.
But for all that, it feels about as worthy as the disposable magazine article it originated from.
This is sure to be director Lorena Scafaria's most commercially successful film, which is unfortunate because her previous films, The Meddler and Seeking a Friend for the end of the World were much, much better.
Comments
Post a Comment