Inspired by the New York Magazine article entitled “The Hustlers at Scores,” director Lorene Scafaria has given us a scintillatingly magnetic film as a result of an ensemble cast – which includes Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, Trace Lysette, and Lizzo.
The film grossed over $33.21 million on its debut weekend further proving that women-led, women-directed, and women-written features are bankable.
Nevertheless, it’s more than a simple “stripper” movie about women getting revenge on rich white men.
It’s a modern-day Robin Hood story that flips the traditional male gaze on its head and turns the tables on the wolves of Wall Street.
“This is a story about control. My control. Control of what I say. Control of what I do. And this time I’m gonna do it my way.” Janet Jackson’s 1986 hit song perfectly opens the film set, in 2007, as we meet “new girl” protagonist Dorothy also known as Destiny (Constance Wu) as she goes on stage for the first time.
Viewers are then cut to Destiny speaking to a reporter, Julia Stiles, as the movie is set up in an interview-style jumping from past to present as Destiny explains her story and how it all began.
Perhaps with one of the greatest character entrances ever is the veteran and main attraction, the incendiary Ramona, portrayed by the incomparable Jennifer Lopez. The scene is magnetic, you simply can’t turn your eyes away from her, she commands your attention via a pole set to Fiona Apple’s Criminal (an absolutely genius song pick). She’s sensual, gritty, and her athleticism is mesmerizing.
It’s absolutely awe-inspiring to watch and deserving of every single bit of Oscar buzz chatter of a supporting role.
Provided Ms. Lopez gets nominated, she’d be the first U.S.-born Puerto Rican actress to be nominated since Rosie Perez in Peter Weir’s 1994 directorial Fearless.
If Ms. Lopez were to win, she’d only be the THIRD Latinx to win (legendary Rita Moreno won for West Side Story and soon to be legend Lupita Nyong’o won for 12 Years a Slave).
Lopez’s character literally takes the women under her massive fur coat to elevate them to her level which is refreshing to see.
As the women’s friendship progresses the audience finds themselves growing within it, encapsulating the ups and downs of bonds between sisters. I somehow kept expecting a moment of betrayal or a stale competitive narrative but that never happened, thankfully, because it was set in the female gaze for the female gaze.
Continuing to live the high life, the women indulge in purchases they never dreamt of, paying off debts, or just supporting their families… Living the cushy new American Dream.
Until the financial crisis of 2008 happened, the women are all affected differently in the fiscal aftermath. A recession meant the end of their once previous luxurious lifestyle.
Destiny loses contact with Ramona and most of the club as she struggles to make ends meet.
A year later, after kicking her boyfriend out, Destiny is forced to return to the club in order to provide for her daughter but finds it a changed place. The new dancers are mostly Russian immigrants who’ll do whatever the clients ask for very little money in exchange.
Whereas still at the club, Destiny is happily reunited with Ramona who consoled her like the mother she never had.
Ramona recants what she’s been up to and then explains she’s over having to take her clothes off for gross or predatory men, she then describes going “fishing.” Seeking vulnerable men at downtown Manhattan bars that seem like they could have impressive credit limits due to their expensive shoes, watches, and/or wedding rings.
The women would befriend and flirt with the men until the rest of their “sisters” arrived and many shots later, the women would drug the men with a cocktail of MDMA and ketamine. Perfecting the recipe so the men are far enough gone that they don’t remember the details yet still not enough to cause damage. The women would then bring the men back to the club to max out their credit cards taking a portion of the profit.
It was all going so well, the women were living grander than before but then they got overconfident and sloppy.
Like it or not, they were savvy businesswomen, pure sharks in men standards. No longer sexual objects for heterosexual male consumption, the women invested back into their families and themselves with plenty of champagne and fur coats to go around.
The entire ensemble cast is entrancing to watch. Supporting cast members Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, and Lizzo breathe comedy into the film giving us glam and humor.
Lopez and Wu are forces of nature, gripping and endearing to watch that you’re rooting for them despite their criminal choices. All of the characters are likable even when doing shady things as the movie evolves.
While most films about strip dancing are seedy or lewd thanks to the male lens, Scafaria has given us a game-changing feminist film brimming with empowering sisterhood and a surprise cameo by the one and only Usher.
