Focus
released 2015

”Focus” is an American crime, romantic, semi-action film written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa and produced by Denise Di Novi. It stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Gerald McRaney, Robert Taylor, Brennan Brown, Adrian Martinez, B.D. Wong, Stephanie Honore, Melania Lenoir, Lindsay Clift and Rodrigo Santoro.

The story begins with a very capable con-man named Nicky Spurgeon, played by Will Smith, taking a drink in fancy bar when he is approached by Jess Barrett, played by Margot Robbie. She is a capable pickpocket and con-artist herself. Sparks fly between them. This film is an elegant view of the very seedy world of crime.

Nicky runs a huge criminal enterprise the size of a fortune 500 company. He has a large office space with equipment and employees like any fortune 500 company. The organization obviously does not pay any of the taxes and steers clear of any law enforcement. His employees have a variety of skills ranging from the technical to various forms of the criminal. They steal money, jewels and people´s identity and descend on a chosen area like a blitzkrieg.

Watching this movie had me worried about using my credit card on vacation because these criminals were just that good. Their network would net them over a million dollars a week and involved hundreds of crimes perpetrated on hundreds of people.

This movie has a plot with a lot of holes but it is still a good watch. The characters are smart with a high enough level of professionalism not to fall in the traps of petty criminals and snitch on each other.  Also, because they worked in an organized group they never seemed to get caught by law enforcement. The chemistry between Jess and Nicky makes the film work because we are never sure what they are thinking.

I enjoyed this film because the characters are a different type of criminal. They aren´t addicted to the violence of the criminal lifestyle and don´t have any of the sadistic impulses seen in these types of films. The relationship between Jess and Nicky remains at the center of the story and is why this movie works. They have a genuine attraction to each other that is as mercurial as their intentions.

I recommend “Focus” as a film to see and own.

(Commentary by www.ink2quill.com )
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