A glimpse of glamour crime

Film review: Focus

MANILA, Philippines - Directed and written by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, Warner Bros.’ Focus stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie in a romance/action-drama that revolves around the world of organized petty crime, larceny and blackmail. Fresh off her performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, the film will most likely be seen as the one that springs Robbie into genuine stardom, while reaffirming Smith as one of the more charming of leading men. Ficarra and Requa are best known for Crazy, Stupid Love, and the new film carries their trademark mix of drama and situational humor.

As Nicky Spurgeon, Smith is a seasoned con man who, out of curiosity, plays along with the scam of aspiring thief, Jess Barrett (Robbie). When Barrett implores Spurgeon to formally take her on as an “intern,” the film hits its brightest spot as Spurgeon takes Barrett on a personally guided tour of misdirection, sleight of hand and using human behavior to take full advantage of their “marks.” For me, this was the most effective part of the film, a virtual “Con Men in Black,” with Smith now taking on the role of mentor as Tommy Lee Jones did for Smith in Men In Black. Entertaining, suffused with humor and witty repartee, this stands as my personal highlight of the film. Also very successful is the film sequence of their trip to New Orleans during Super Bowl weekend and the encounter with an Asian high roller, who loves to gamble on impulse, played by BD Wong.

The second half of the film has Smith and Robbie finding their paths crossing again in Buenos Aires, in a scam that involves Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro), a billionaire racecar owner, and his right hand man Owens (Gerald McRaney). For me, this is where the film misses a step or two, relying on a deus ex machina, when more promising would have been a high-stakes competition between the mentor and student. The film’s scene-stealer is Spurgeon’s accomplice, the overweight Farhad played by Adrian Martinez.

While evidently getting on in years, Smith is more comfortable and effective in roles of this sort, faring far better than he did in films like After Earth. And for the first half of the film alone, this is well worth the price of the ticket. Gorgeously shot, with vivid colors and sets, Focus is an entertaining vehicle, giving us a glimpse of glamour crime.