Hustlers Movie Review

Hustlers (2019)

Rent Hustlers on Amazon Video
Written by: Lorene Scafaria
Directed by: Alex Kurtzman
Starring: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
Inspired by the New York Magazine article, a crew of savvy former strip club employees band together to steal from their Wall Street clients who stole from the nation without consequence.

Verdict
I was expecting more out of this. It's a movie about likable criminals that fall into a claimed gray area. While Jennifer Lopez plays a strong character, this ends rather abruptly. The movie doesn't delve into why the characters kept stealing, I assume because they could and they enjoyed it.
It depends.

Review
This is based on a true story, and I knew a woman, Lorene Scafaria, wrote and directed a movie about strippers which I assumed would lessen the male gaze perspective focused on stripping and pivot to the character relationships.

Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez play Destiny and Ramona.

Destiny (Constance Wu) discovers stripping isn't as easy nor as lucrative as expected. Everyone wants a cut from the manager to the door man. When you're the new girl, there isn't a lot left at the end of the day. Mesmerized by Ramona's (Jennifer Lopez) dance, Destiny ostensibly forces an interaction. Ramona's introduction dance is something. Ramona takes Destiny under her wing, showing her how to dance and who to target for maximum return.

Constance Wu plays Destiny.

The movie kept cutting to Destiny speaking with a journalist. I'm guessing they were in Destiny's expensive looking house, but even after the movie ended these cutaways seemed superfluous. It doesn't help that there isn't much explanation. The inherent question of what and why only slows the tempo of the movie. While the answer is eventually revealed, it doesn't dictate the inclusion of these scenes.

Destiny and Ramona with an unsuspecting mark.

The recession of 2008 had a big impact on the stripper industry. Destiny had a child and had quit dancing beforehand, but after the break up with her boyfriend and her lack of skills she returns. It's a different world. The dancers are Russian and willing to go very far for little money. Destiny runs into Ramona again who has found a new angle. Get men drunk and have them sign off on overpriced credit card bills. The mark won't report the theft due to the compromising position.

Jennifer does a great job as Ramona. She's fierce but loyal, characterized as prone to taking in strays, women that need help. After all, that's how Destiny befriended Ramona. Ramona is the most fascinating character in the movie, but this unfolds from Destiny's viewpoint.

Jennifer Lopez plays Ramona.

The most glaring question is why Ramona insisted on taking such risks. The women involved in the crime ring pulled this off for five years and appear to be doing very well. Their scam is simple but effective. Ramona's greed and partnering with unreliable people were her downfall. She became reckless, with an unsustainable business model. I just don't know why Ramona did that. I wanted a scene where she acknowledges the risk or voices why she needs money so bad. Otherwise it seems like the narrative just needed a conclusion and this was an easy out.

I was expecting something similar to Widows, but a little more over the top and fun. I didn't think it would be as good, just similar. That was too high of an expectation. This feels hollow. While Ramona is a great character, the movie never develops Destiny past she just needs money. There are a few other characters involved in the crime ring that have potential but are flat.
Jennifer Lopez's performance is definitely a draw, but removing that makes this movie ordinary.