So, we're supposed to root for these bastards? Why?

I think one of the biggest problems I had "rooting" for the protagonists was that they were petty. They stole people's wallets and credit card information, not the Mona Lisa. The movie tries to pretend that the audience should be impressed with their antics, but they basically do stuff that every con has done throughout history. With the exception of the Super Bowl bet con, they barely rose above the common shoplifter or identity scammer. I think that's what separates films like Ocean's Eleven from this film.

In Ocean's Eleven they take down a major target with complex timing and flawless planning and execution. Yes, they are thieves and stealing is wrong, but the audience can forgive them because of what they steal and how they do it. It creates a sense of artistry, and even when you hate a particular form of art, you can still appreciate the accomplishments of great artists operating in that genre.

Actually it started with that idea, a thief stealing from those rich thieves who deserved it like Ruben Hood
he was taking matters into his own hand and those rich thieves day after day hated more and more by most of normal people
the media made any rich person to be a thief otherwise he wouldn't be so rich
hate grew through time and people needed an excuse for their failure and then revenge
so it kind of made sense to some people, increasing with time
now a thief stealing from cheaters or gamblers
tomorrow a thief stealing from regular people because they are not smart enough or careful enough
stealing is stealing, nobody should take matters into his own hands
of course a lot of people opposed the idea of Ruben Hood in the beginning but then they just died and the media kept telling his story so he became more popular
that is what happens when you think what you learned as kid was always right and then start thinking about new things after growing up, aka double standards because you never rethink what you learned as a kid and you only oppose new ideas when you are a grown up then you die and those ideas don't.


It is never about what happened, it is only how you look at it!

Not all fiction is meant to have the reader or viewer 'rooting' for the protagonist...

I don't need them to be likeable... but I DID need them to be interesting, and the fact that I didn't think they were was a much bigger problem!




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"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

Scum like this can be found in al major cities in Europe, mostly of eastern-european descent.

Unless I am mistaken this is a work of fiction. Right?

Maybe you tape a mirror to your TV but I prefer to see people who aren't me. Who wouldn't act like me. I root for the bad guy. Captain Jack Sparrow, Scarface, Jesse Pinkman, Dexter, Eric Cartman, etc. They don't hold my same values and I would hate them in real life but they make interesting characters.

SO how about the Godfather?

I completely understand what you mean. I agree, the movie is making the two main characters who are criminals, and trying to make the audience like or cheer for them. Although, throughout cinematic history, criminals are a lot of times "glorified". And yes, "Oceans 11" and 12 and 13, where about thieves, but they stole from these high rollers and big shots that practically swam in dirty money. And in "Focus" they stole from the average person walking down the street, which as you said, you and me. And your also correct about the "pick-pocket" type criminals are running around everyday everywhere.
Now movies with not just thieves as "protagonists" but let's say drug dealers (Scarface 1983) or Mob/Mafia movies such as The Godfather" or "Mean Streets" shows various criminal activity being committed by the "good guys" which are given the term "Anti-Hero". My point is that, the Anti-Hero themed character had always and probably will always make a more complex on screen character.
Also, the society that we live in is a lot more "laid back" as far as movies and TV goes. A lot of things on some commercials we see advertised have things that you really couldn't find in a mainstream movie, back when.. And that Anti-Hero theme has not only been through movies but as in pop culture including video games as well. Example, the "Grand Theft Auto" game series. Yes the stories are interesting and sometimes really played out well, but the end theme is always, you commit all types of crimes and at the end you walk off into the sunset with money spilling out your pockets. And unfortunately, yes, people think these men or women as "cool" which is horrible to fathom, especially when I see 10 year olds walk into Gamestop with their parents and buy GTA V. So a lot of times I believe it's not what the characters do, so much as the audiences' attraction to such characters or the actors portraying them, (Will Smith is awesome) so many end up cheering even if that character isn't exactly a good example of a human being.
At least this one isn't like, "Straight Out Of Compton" which I think is polluting the minds of American youth. But thats a different story.
I'm glad you brought this topic up, because many people don't touch down on this subject as much as i'd like to see.