Focus
2015 · Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Original language: English
- romance
- comedy
- crime
The story
Nicky, an accomplished con artist, gets romantically involved with his disciple Jess but later ends their relationship. Years later, she returns as a femme fatale to spoil his plans.
What it’s like
Glossy, sun-warmed and slightly unreal: Focus lives in New Orleans hotel lobbies, Buenos Aires nightlife and sleek Manhattan suites, shot with a polished digital sheen, warm amber interiors and bright, sun-struck street scenes that feel like a travel brochure hiding a sharper edge. Camera moves are fluid and showy, with tracking shots through crowds and tight, flirtatious two-shots that keep you watching hands and eyes. The score is jazzy and bouncy, with pop-era needle drops that give the cons a playful lift. The vibe is breezy and seductive with a cool undercurrent of mistrust, the kind of movie that suits a lazy weekend evening, a long-haul flight, or a comfort rewatch when you want something stylish and clever without much weight. Its pacing is brisk and jokey in the first half, then tightens into games of misdirection. The emotional register stays light and teasing, with a lonely, guarded older con man learning he can't fully trust the woman who once trained under him. Intensity is low: some scuffles, a brief gunfight, and suggestive flirtation, with no gore and little real menace. Made for viewers who enjoy caper-style romance, sly banter and twists they can enjoy without being rattled.
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