Hustlers: The Forgotten Working Women
Jennifer Lopez captures the camera in Lorene Scafaria's Hustlers. Hustlers is based on the New York Magazine article about a group of 2007-2008 era strippers, led by Ramona (Lopez) who begin to drug men with money and take a cut from their cards after the financial crisis. It's a luxurious, glittery exposition on the nature of capitalism. The period piece is created from its music and clothing that transports audiences back into the period of 2007-2015.
The story of the strippers is told through the eyes of modern-day Destiny's (Wu) interactions with a journalist during an interview. The heart of this film is the emotional, complex and fierce relationship between Destiny and Ramona. They both hustle to provide for their daughters while also enjoying the luxuries of life. The meeting of the two begins when Destiny begins dancing at the club and becomes mesmerized by Ramona's confidence shown through her performance on the pole that captivates both Destiny and audiences. Destiny introduces herself and Ramona quickly takes her under her wing to help guide her.
Hustlers tells the intimate, wildly and power imbalances of the female friendship through its cast. Scafaria allows her characters to be anti-heroes and rough rather than bland and one-dimensional. The women are angry,untrusting, loving and glamorous all at the same time. Scafaria focuses on the edgy nature of a women. She allows them to be real and raw.
The aesthetic really brings the story to life. The film balances emotion, crime, and culture throughout the story and is all threaded together through the editing. The wardrobe is the highlight of the film with the Juicy Couture hoodies and metallic dresses and fur coats.
In this film, Lopez is charming and doing the best work of her career. She fully becomes Ramona and is dedicated to the story. She turns her charm into anger. Whenever she walks into a room all the attention goes to her and her Kohl eyes are captivating and show audiences what she is thinking. It is frightening and amusing. Her image paints a picture of confidence and strength through her motions and looks. She knows all the rules of the game and it helps her when breaking them.
Scafaria immerses audiences into the world of sex work in clubs by telling this story. She paints women as strong figures who sometimes feel anger and emotion which is normal. The film feels like a workplace drama and comedy with a mix of revenge fantasy. It is much more than strippers running a con but a commentary on working women navigating through an economy that puts them at a disadvantage. Scafaria strips away any stereotypes of strippers to show that these are working women who are struggling to make ends meet and the world has forgotten them. In contrast to all the films about the financial crisis, Scafaria tells it through the working women of the world instead of Wall Street bankers. Audiences root for these women.