The Grifters (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Based on a pulpy film noir novel, & directed by Stephen Frears (of Dangerous Liaisons), 'The Grifters' follows a trio of high-stakes con artists (grifters, on the 'grift') who are hell bent on out-foxing each other. Roy Dillon (John Cusack) is a simple small-time con, who winds up on the injured end of scams-gone-wrong, whose loyalties are torn, and whose life is thrown all out of whack when his estranged mother Lilly (Anjelica Huston) returns back to L.A. in an attempt to evade the law (see, she works for a bookie, placing bets to change the odds at horse tracks. And when a job went wrong, she had to go on the run). After meeting her, Lilly can't stand Roy's new sexy girlfriend Myra Langtry (Annette Bening), who is actually very similar to herself -- ruthless, & looking for her next victim.
Before long, the 2 women are competing for Roy in a battle that is more of a power struggle than an actual pursuit of his love. He's literally getting caught in a web of passion & mistrust. Myra (Bening) is a hard one to crack. We don't quite know if she's hot for Roy or for something else. And Lilly is an even harder one to crack. She's tough as nails; hardened. Yet, you see glimmers of her wanting to be maternal towards Roy. But her ultimate 'affections' towards him prove to be dangerous. The long simmering implications of incestuous emotions btwn. she & Roy come to a head. Betrayal, seduction ... each grifter has their own angle to play against each other before the end. And it all leads to some sobering & shocking murders.
Director Stephen Frears & his production designer, Dennis Gassner, really capture the grim, unsettling qualities of old film noir melodramas. The film moves at a fleet 105 minutes & barrels towards one of the bleakest climaxes in recent film history. When what happens happens ... your jaw will drop; and the result will stay with you for quite some time. It's actually very interesting to just watch the 3 main characters do their thing. Rarely before has a simple action like counting money been more riveting. Some of the "grifter's lingo" - as I'll put it - went over my head. Some of the phrases affiliated with grifting didn't register with me & I just tried to go with the flow of things. That's probably my biggest complaint of the whole film; and it's only a complaint because I don't get it; not because the script is poor. It's not, at all. In fact, the screenplay finds the right combo of engaging characters, dry wit, sex and, an ambiguous final act (plus that horrific climax).
The performances are incredibly astute & powerful. Anjelica Huston's Lilly is a true survivor; someone who'll do WHATEVER it takes to get by. There's a sinewy toughness about her. Everything she says & does is mechanical. You see the wheels working behind her eyes. It's just a great performance; worthy of an Oscar nomination, if not more. John Cusack is stellar as the guy in the middle of two women; trying to keep his head above water. He's passive. But there's an intensity there, as well. And Annette Bening tears through the role as a real hellcat. She may have this naive, coy act going on, but beneath all of that b.s., you just know she's as shrewd as any grifter around. Stellar performances. Smart writing. Slick film.
Before long, the 2 women are competing for Roy in a battle that is more of a power struggle than an actual pursuit of his love. He's literally getting caught in a web of passion & mistrust. Myra (Bening) is a hard one to crack. We don't quite know if she's hot for Roy or for something else. And Lilly is an even harder one to crack. She's tough as nails; hardened. Yet, you see glimmers of her wanting to be maternal towards Roy. But her ultimate 'affections' towards him prove to be dangerous. The long simmering implications of incestuous emotions btwn. she & Roy come to a head. Betrayal, seduction ... each grifter has their own angle to play against each other before the end. And it all leads to some sobering & shocking murders.
Director Stephen Frears & his production designer, Dennis Gassner, really capture the grim, unsettling qualities of old film noir melodramas. The film moves at a fleet 105 minutes & barrels towards one of the bleakest climaxes in recent film history. When what happens happens ... your jaw will drop; and the result will stay with you for quite some time. It's actually very interesting to just watch the 3 main characters do their thing. Rarely before has a simple action like counting money been more riveting. Some of the "grifter's lingo" - as I'll put it - went over my head. Some of the phrases affiliated with grifting didn't register with me & I just tried to go with the flow of things. That's probably my biggest complaint of the whole film; and it's only a complaint because I don't get it; not because the script is poor. It's not, at all. In fact, the screenplay finds the right combo of engaging characters, dry wit, sex and, an ambiguous final act (plus that horrific climax).
The performances are incredibly astute & powerful. Anjelica Huston's Lilly is a true survivor; someone who'll do WHATEVER it takes to get by. There's a sinewy toughness about her. Everything she says & does is mechanical. You see the wheels working behind her eyes. It's just a great performance; worthy of an Oscar nomination, if not more. John Cusack is stellar as the guy in the middle of two women; trying to keep his head above water. He's passive. But there's an intensity there, as well. And Annette Bening tears through the role as a real hellcat. She may have this naive, coy act going on, but beneath all of that b.s., you just know she's as shrewd as any grifter around. Stellar performances. Smart writing. Slick film.