Respond to these rapid questions in our Hustlers quiz and we will tell you which Hustlers character you are. Play it now.
A blaring version of Fiona Apple’s late-’90s anthem “Criminal” plays over the main stage of a cavernous strip club in “Hustlers,” and the first line of the song, “I’ve been a bad, bad girl,” foreshadows the knowing, playful tease that is to come.
Lusty men in rumpled suits rush to her legendary derriere right away—not Lopez’s, per se, but that of the veteran exotic dancer she portrays, the immaculately preserved Ramona—and immediately begin showering her with cash. In spite of this, it’s difficult to distinguish completely between Lopez as a megastar and Lopez as the larger-than-life character she plays in the film “Hustlers,” which is actually part of the pleasure of witnessing Lopez’s career-best performance as the multi-hyphenate. Even though we are all familiar with this figure—we are familiar with the swagger, the magnetism, and the incandescent ability to work an audience—Lopez has repurposed and repackaged all of her well-honed abilities in this film as a reminder that, before she was known as J.Lo, she was a naturally gifted actress. “We are all familiar with this figure,” says Lopez.
There are many reasons to see writer/director Lorene Scafaria’s crime drama, but seeing Lopez’s best screen work since her early heyday of “Selena” and “Out of Sight” is one of the most compelling. “Hustlers” as a whole is a blast, stomping and striding with the confidence of Lopez’s thrilling introduction as it tells the true story of a group of strippers who lured, drugged, and fleeced their wealthy Wall Street clients out of millions of dollars.
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In some ways, Scafaria overuses classic Scorsese filmmaking techniques: the matter-of-fact narration that describes the scam, her use of slow motion and zooms to heighten the emotion of a moment, and the pop, rock, and R&B soundtrack that includes everything from Janet Jackson and Britney Spears to Bob Seger and The Four Seasons, with Chopin interspersed throughout. ) (Her lengthy opening tracking shot, which takes us from a dressing room to a hallway to the stage, down the stairs, and out into the audience, is an impressive and immersive entrée into this world. Furthermore, we may have seen one or two too many montages of the high-end shopping and lavish lifestyle that these ladies were able to afford with their ill-gotten gains. It’s “Goodfellas” on a G-string, to be precise. The film is always a blast to watch, and it has a surprising amount of emotional depth due to Scafaria’s direction.
Hustlers Quiz
It is based closely on Jessica Pressler’s New York magazine article (with Julia Stiles playing the journalist’s stand-in), and it follows Constance Wu’s shy “new girl,” Destiny (Constance Wu), as she navigates the world of Costco-sized strip clubs in New York City, where she is a Queens native and child of immigrants. Initially, she is only doing it for the sake of financial survival in order to support her grandmother (Wai Ching Ho), and she does not demonstrate much enthusiasm or talent for her newfound endeavor. However, witnessing Ramona command the stage makes her realize just how powerful—and lucrative—this type of work can be for others. Ramona and another stripper (Cardi B, a proud Latina product of the Bronx like Jenny from the Block who makes her charismatic film debut) teach Destiny the finer points of pole spinning and lap dancing is both hilarious and actually kind of sweet, and it serves as an early indication of the way these women look out for one another.
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For the time being, the money is plentiful, especially with Ramona and Destiny teaming up to create a seductive atmosphere in the champagne room. But then comes the Great Recession of 2008, which takes a heavy toll on Wall Street’s jerks, resulting in them having less money to throw at people’s rear ends. As the film progresses, the crazy, addictive energy of the beginning gives way to a more subdued tone as work dwindles, the dancers separate, and Destiny gives birth to a baby girl, among other things.
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However, Ramona’s desperation also drives her to devise a scheme to make even more money, including concocting a potent mix of MDMA and ketamine, sprinkling just a dash of it in the drink of an unsuspecting mark at a bar, and dragging him back to the strip club to drain his credit cards. (While the drug-cooking sequence in Ramona’s minimalist Upper East Side apartment is lively and amusing, it also serves as yet another unassailable “Goodfellas” comparison. ) Ramona and Destiny enlist the help of a couple of trusted fellow dancers—Keke Palmer’s Mercedes and Lili Reinhart’s Annabelle, both of whom contribute to the cast’s chemistry—to create a diverse lineup of sirens, and the nightly heists get underway.
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When it comes to examining the morality of the women’s crimes, Scafaria does not appear to be particularly interested. She believes these men have it coming to them as a result of their chosen profession; they are crooks and scam artists in their own right, albeit of the white-collar variety. Additionally, they’re generally obnoxious and awful human beings, which appears to justify the women’s actions as well. Instead, we’re supposed to root for these hard-working ladies as they bask in the glory of their well-deserved riches and success. Scafaria makes a compelling case for assembling such a likable cast, despite the fact that it appears to be superficial.
Naturally, Ramona is the catalyst for the action; she is both the brash ringleader and the warm mother hen, and Lopez fully embodies all of the contradictions and complexities that come with her character’s complexities. Even before they’ve had a chance to get to know each other, Ramona invites Destiny to climb inside her fur during a chilly nighttime smoke break on the rooftop of the strip club. (After all, who could possibly say no?) When it comes to her role as Destiny, Wu has the opportunity to demonstrate a more defined character arc, transitioning from wide-eyed newcomer to ruthless assassin. She also has the opportunity to demonstrate even greater dramatic depth than she did in her breakout performance in “Crazy Rich Asians.” In spite of the flashy, duplicitous nature of their dealings, the teary-eyed bond that develops between these two characters—their protective sisterhood in a world full of predators—becomes unexpectedly substantive by the end of the novel.
Moreover, as you walk out of the strippers’ den, you may have a similar sensation to that of the victims of the strippers: you may not remember everything that happened, but it is certain that you had a good time.
For more personality quizzes check this: The Lego Movie 2 Quiz.
