Movie Breakdown: Hustlers

Pre-Screening Stance:

When was the last time Jennifer Lopez starred in something good?  I wouldn’t have guessed that – of all things – a stripper movie would bring this shitty streak of hers to an end, but the early word on Hustlers has been so positive that this actually seems likely.  Fingers crossed.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Hustlers isn’t really a “stripper movie,” it’s more like a light version of The Wolf Of Wall Street (with a hint of The Big Short).  At the start of the film, which is based on a true story, Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) and Destiny (Constance Wu) are a pair of pals pulling in piles of cash at a strip club that attracts an endless stream of wealthy Wall Street types.  Then, because nothing good lasts, the financial crisis of 2008 storms in and wipes out their client base.  There’s an attempt made by all to get regular jobs, but the independence, power and money just isn’t there, so Ramona draws up the shadiest of schemes – find guys willing to party, spike their drink with a custom concoction (ketamine + MDMA), and then max out their credit cards while their mind is in another dimension.  Admittedly, this is a wildly terrible thing to do to someone, but you won’t find yourself at odds with anyone in Hustlers, as it’s a film full of very relatable women doing what they have to do to get by.  It’s their way to be free, to get everything they want and need, and ultimately, watching them dupe dopes with too much money makes for a very satisfying experience.  Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt that this film features one of Jennifer Lopez’s best performances.

You should definitely go see Hustlers.  It’s a kinetic effort with compelling characters and an interesting story.

One Last Thought:

I hoped that this film would feature Lizzo playing a flute in a room full of strippers, and it does.  Dreams do come true.