Jennifer Lopez makes a fierce and fiery movie re-debut in ‘Hustlers,’ a film just as raunchy and provocative as it is emotionally charged and sentimental.
Imagine this, a glimmering Jennifer Lopez, who plays Ramona, walks onto an empty stage with all eyes on her. The blinding lights track her every move as the dance floor hides the faces of Wall Street businessmen who shower her in green bills.
Pink and purple club lights dance with the meticulous movement of her body, highlighting her bronzed physique. She struts in her fur coats and designer platform shoes. Ramona is strong, powerful and adored by the masses.
Everyone in the club is captivated by veteran Ramona’s undeniable confidence, including Destiny, a newbie stripper played by Constance Wu.
Destiny, like many women, wants what Ramona has — money, fame, attitude and success.
The film follows their complicated yet love-fueled friendship as they create a business empire out of swindling Wall Street’s biggest money talkers. Their vanity and poor perception of women lead to their pathetic demise and dollar signs for Ramona and her crew.
The film’s lineup of female actresses made the film charismatic and undeniably enjoyable, featuring on-screen cameos from Cardi B, Lizzo, Keke Palmer and Lili Reinhart.
The group’s hilarious ensemble made for playful writing and outward expressions of their true personalities, even including Cardi B’s signature hysterical laugh and boss-lady mentality.
The characters’ chemistry and film rhetoric emphasized the strength of female friendship and sisterhood among their individual pursuits for financial stability and providing for their families.
Between scenes of backstage female banter, fashionable costumes and champagne pouring, female director and screenwriter Lorene Scafaria depicts sisterhood with relatable and laughable conversations.
While most movies depict female leads pitted against each other in bouts of jealousy, the bond between the female characters and their allegiance to each other reflected my own personal friendships with other women for the first time.
The movie even displays the toxicity among all of their relationships, as a money-hungry desire gets the best of them in lieu of expensive Christmas presents, designer sunglasses and A-list cars.
Despite their chase for money and luxury, the layered relationships of each of the women thoughtfully compliment the struggles and triumphs of their pursuit for happiness and power.
As the women become more successful, we see changes in their lives play out as a result of their fraudulent careers.
The film illustrates American materialism in the most glittery and gaudy way, showing that ironically, the women are no different than the John’s who come into their club eagerly demanding their bodies for money.
“Hustlers” also pays homage to late 2010 fads like the iPhone 4 and Juicy Couture tracksuits, bringing me back to a time in pop culture that seemed like a distant memory. It was both laughable and refreshingly nostalgic.
The film has a layered portrayal of female friendship and shows the grind for financial success.
It also shows while we would do anything for money and luxury, the relationships we form are the true carriers of personal success.
