Hustlers Review

Never in my wildest imagination did I think I’d see how the 2008 financial crash would have an impact of the strip club industry, but alas here in 2019 we’re getting a wide release film that explores this. While what that last sentence says might sound a bit dismissive, the reality is that certain stories will invariably be overlooked. But the economic catastrophe that ensued over 10 years ago had a profound impact for everyone across society. So why not explore it in a different way this time?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I thought this film was going to be terrible. Putting it bluntly, there’s one reason and a pretty big reason for that: Cardi B. It may sound harsh, but she is just insufferably irritating and I don’t get what’s the big deal with her. Having said all that, this film is pretty damn good. Is Cardi B annoying in it? Yes, but thankfully only in small doses as she merely has a glorified cameo role. But is this the film I think can kick off Oscar season? Absolutely.

Loosely based on a true story, Constance Wu plays Destiny; a naïve stripper who isn’t pulling in the big bucks. Indeed, her draw with the rich Wall Street bankers is loose change compared to the dominating and superior Ramona, excellently portrayed by the one and only J Lo. An Academy Award nomination could seriously be beckoning for the latter who also produces this movie. At the heart of this movie, is the friendship or pseudo mother-daughter relationship these two have and throughout their chemistry is just brilliant.

This film is really serious at times and really slap stick at times also. Keke Palmer’s character does bring a lot of the laughs here, but only because she’s a bit of an idiot. It shouldn’t be lost that this story actually happened. This small team of strippers drugged real men, albeit sleezy and somewhat brass-necked men, and maxed out their credit cards. While the heist elements of this film where Ramona and co. are filling their pockets may be more entertaining, it is the theme of motherhood that is done best. Destiny’s relationships with Ramona and her grandmother, accommodating for her absent real mother, and Destiny’s uncompromising prioritisation of her own daughter were the best elements of Hustlers.  

This film lays bare the reality of strip clubs and strip work. But by giving us a new spin on this world, it engages in issues deeper than I expected to explore before walking in to the movie. I wasn’t expecting this to be a film that picks apart capitalism; and its pros and cons. With what brings the former and latter together being the stark fact that money persists as a moral corruptor. This is a good watch, and is sure to be in the conversation come Oscar time.