Sep 11

Sep 11 Review: Hustlers is a Modern Tale of Ride or Die Friendship

Impressive casting and creative choices make the film sparkle.

Some spoilers ahead.

Few recent films have attracted the genuine buzz Hustlers has. Critics and fans alike are celebrating the arrival of a film of this genre that’s actually good — not a guilty pleasure like Burlesque or Showgirls. Believe the hype, because with its brilliant cast and creative choices, the film might just be an awards season contender.

Hustlers is based on a true story. Rookie stripper Destiny (Constance Wu) is trained by old pro Ramona (Jennifer Lopez). The two make major bank off Wall Street men until 2008 happens, and the stock market crashes. A few years later, Destiny is strapped for cash, and Ramona brings her into a scam involving drugging men and maxing out their credit cards.

Leads Wu and Lopez steal the show with brilliant chemistry that makes the collapse of their believable best friendship all the more heartbreaking. The Oscar buzz for Lopez is warranted. Her performance is layered, authentic and perfectly rendered. The film could have gone on for another half hour if it meant more time with her brilliant Ramona.

Despite zeitgeist-driven stunt casting like Lizzo and real life former stripper Cardi B, everyone’s acting was up to snuff. More screen time for those hot music stars would have been welcome, however the film reserved them for earlier scenes set in 2007. Even rapper G-Eazy impressed in a small role as Destiny's baby daddy.

Creative editing choices stood out, like all audio cutting out when Destiny turns off journalist Julia Stiles’ tape recorder. Later, in a sting operation, all audio heard by the audience is coming from the wire one character is wearing. The soundtrack was flat out impressive, from a brilliant montage scene featuring Britney Spears’ “Gimme More,” to classical music scoring the back room heists.

Writing from writer-director Lorene Scafaria was fascinating as well. The film ends with a dynamite quote from Lopez, who tells Stiles the entire world is a strip club; some are throwing the cash, and the rest of us are dancing for it.