JLo is undeniably, irresistibly, back. She plays one half of the mastermind duo (alongside Constance Wu) in a real life story of strippers-turned-scammers in the new Lorene Scafaria movie, Hustlers. There is the temptation to compare it to other films – it has a Goodfellas-like panache, Wolf of Wall Street party vibes, it is a more fun version of Widows, or a more weighty and substantive version of Oceans Eight – but Hustlers does deserve to stand on its own. It is fun, stylish, bold, and a legitimately good movie.
What we will remember it by, though, is the breathtakingly powerful turn by Jennifer Lopez. It is truly astounding, one of the most magnetic and riveting female performances in years. Lopez is unbelievable in her role as a larger-than-life veteran stripper-slash-conwoman who is so smart, in control, and compassionate. If there’s any justice in this world, she’ll get an Oscar nod. You simply can’t take your eyes off her whenever she graces the screen, as she (sometimes literally) dances along the line between arrogantly comfortable and clawingly desperate. It was doubly satisfying that although she is obviously exceedingly sexy and sensual, at no point did any of the scenes feel exploitative or objectifying – probably hugely helpful that it was directed by a woman (the excellent and accomplished Scafaria).
JLo just has such a physicality to her performance. Our introduction to her in that first pole dance sequence is not just one of the most dazzling scenes of the year, but, you get the sense, instantly iconic in movie history. For most of the film, but particularly for this scene, you can’t help wondering in your head: How the hell is she 50 years old?? I almost strained my hamstring just watching her. The immediately subsequent scene of JLo in a fur coat smoking on the rooftop is also an absolutely astonishing shot – a glamorous magazine cover shoot sprung to life. That fur coat stands alongside The Driver’s Scorpion jacket and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock trenchcoat in the pantheon of this century’s classic cinematic outerwear.
The rest of the cast is pretty good too, although Constance Wu just felt somewhat underwhelming as JLo’s foil, and was a little unconvincing as a desperate stripper. Wu’s character often felt like a mere plot device in the proceedings, while JLo was so likeable and charming and funny, every single line she spoke was so full of personality – such a motherly sweetheart who wanted to help other girls/strippers and so was very sympathetic, if flawed.
Aside from the outstanding costume design and the flashy Scorcese homages, there is substance to prop up the style. Some of the film’s message provides for an interesting perspective (“the whole world is a strip club, you are either dancing or throwing money”) and makes some pretty persuasive arguments on morality, survival versus greed. The best part is that it does let you decide you think is right and wrong (or at least who you side with), and just has a lot of fun in the process.
One nit that I had was the framing device of the interview, which felt unnecessary and interrupted the actual story that was going on, which is what I was interested in; it really broke up the pacing. But overall Hustlers is a solid romp of a movie that will be defined by the powerhouse screen presence that is JLo.
