'Hustlers' Review: Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez's film hustles without judgement

Film: Hustlers;

Critic's Rating: 3.5/5;

Cast: Constance Wu; Jennifer Lopez; Julia Stiles; Keke Palmer; Lili Reinhart; Lizzo; Cardi B

Director:  Lorene Scafaria;

Written By:  Lorene Scafaria ; 

Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes;

Language: English (A)

Story: Former New York City stripper Dorothy is called for an interview by a journalist Elizabeth, who is working on a scam story about Dorothy's former friend and mentor Ramona Vega.  Dorothy, then known as Destiny starts working at a strip club to help her grandmother. After not being able to make enough money she asks Ramona Vega, a popular stripper to take her under the wing. Over the year they make enough money than a surgeon but after the market crashes in 2008 they have to get creative and make their own money. It then grows to the illegal use of drugs and credit card frauds eventually leads to a prison sentence of 5 years for Ramona.

Review:

Hustlers is much like a strip club, all shiny and bright at the entry but a different story goes on in the backroom. The film starts with a voiceover about how the story is about control, we see Destiny (Constance Wu) getting ready for her first night at work she follows other girls on to the stage and is introduced as the new girl. While some give her attention it quickly gets harder to make money, until Ramona Vega (Jennifer Lopez) walks in. After her popular dance Destiny sneaks out to talk to her, the two hit it off and they start working together. We are then cut to a Destiny in 2014, where she is Dorothy in her own life away from the strip club talking to a journalist. Constance Wu's dialogue 'Ramona was always in control', brings the film first act to a full circle, the girls get rich making all the money until they have to pay the price for it.

Directed by Lorene Scafaria who is known for her comedy-drama, Hustlers is completely different. The film at start intends to be an all-revealing crime story based on true events but it secretly becomes a story about sisterhood, jealousy, and betrayal. What makes the film work is how Lorene balances the two aspects of the story, the crime world and the drama between Dorothy and Ramona without overpowering either. Sadly what doesn't work is how while presenting a 2000s story Hustlers becomes a 2000s film.

The velvet tracksuits, blonde and black highlights, Usher's music, it all brings back heavy nostalgia, but the film also follows a typical formal of a 2000s drama movie. The good, the bad, the tragic death of a family member and the reconciliation. Just when we are about to hit the reconciliation we get a better picture which works in the film's favour immensely. The film is inspired by Jessica Pressler's article titled, The Hustlers at Scores, it is a simple script with good punches in the screenplay. Adding in actors like Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, and more the film proves to be a runner. 

While Constance Wu is the lead of the film and it is her character's story, it is not easy to compete with JLo's screen presence. Still, she holds her own space and shines just as much. Jennifer Lopez, on the other hand, plays the money woman who is all about the business but she also has a few moments where she gets to show some love and it stays with you. Both women have amazing chemistry with each other. Dorothy always wants to please Ramona while Ramona promises to stay by her. They grow together, then apart, take each other for granted and split only to understand that sisterhood is forever.

What putts a dammer on things is even after the film being certified as 'Adults Only' in bold letters by CBFC, within five minutes we get several cuts with many beeps and mutes throughout the 108 minutes of Hustlers.