MovieChat Forums > Hustlers (2019) Discussion > Fun but overrated (spoilers)

Fun but overrated (spoilers)

posted 5 years ago by JakeSWITCH (504)
4 replies | jump to latest

Lorene Scafaria's film about strippers who join the gig economy after the financial crisis really needed more grit and character depth and fewer crowd-pleasing 'Coyote Ugly' vibes.

'Hustlers' gets a lot of mileage from Jennifer Lopez's performance... not only does she look like a lioness, she also does a lot with what little the script has to offer her. Subtract Lopez from the film and you have a far less memorable story, as Constance Wu isn't particularly strong as the lead.

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You can read all of my latest film reviews here: https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/about/Jake

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8711) 5 years ago

I avoided this one for a while and finally watched it tonight. It was much more interesting than I anticipated.

For some reason I thought this was a female heist movie. I guess it is in a way, but not in the shooting-guns-while-robbing-some-shit way. I did not know that it was based on a true story and grounded in reality.

It actually kind of reminded me of a female Goodfellas-lite. It's certainly not as epic as that film but some of the broad strokes are there, with Wu as a Henry Hill type. I would be very surprised to learn that the writer was NOT consciously channeling Marty when working on the script.

I'd give it a 7.5/10. I expected little and got a film that was well-made. I thought both J-Lo and Wu were good.

[–] JakeSWITCH (504) 5 years ago

It actually mind of reminded me of a female Goodfellas-lite.

Martin Scorsese was actually approached to direct 'Hustlers'.

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You can read all of my latest film reviews here: https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/about/Jake

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8711) 5 years ago

That makes sense, though I'm not surprised he turned it down. It feels more lile an homage than something he himself would direct.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6360) 4 years ago

I found it lacking also. Certainly needed something. Like a character one could like, apart from Julia Stiles' character. The guys are objectifying and the women are drugging and robbing.

It could have been saved if it had regularly been funny, but that was missing as well.