I’m so glad I was right in my assumption of what Sharper would turn out to be. I absolutely love conman thrillers. When done well, they can be some of the most entertaining and interesting films you’ll see. This film exceeded my already high expectations. The script manages the multifaceted story very well and gives us characters that are intriguing. And to top it all off, the cast that’s assembled to play these roles all do a magnificent job. You can tell there was a lot of care put into this, and I really hope this gets seen by as many people as possible.
The storytelling takes its time and gives us looks into each character. We spend enough time with each so that we know what motivates them. It’s always fun to guess whether what you’re seeing is genuine in films like this.
Obviously, the point of a film like this is to be twisty and mysterious. What happens in one scene could be revealed as something else entirely in the next scene. The twists and turns are satisfying. They go just far enough to where it’s interesting and entertaining, but not convoluted.
That’s something that must be considered in a thriller like this. You can’t throw in too many curveballs, because then it can become a game of mental gymnastics trying to piece things together. The script keeps us engaged.
In addition to interesting revelations, there’s also impressive character development and pacing. The only character that’s light on depth is John Lithgow, but that’s not a big issue because his role is sort of meant to be that way. I suppose he could have used just a tad more depth, but that’s a very minor critique.
Personally, I was most intrigued by Julianne Moore’s character. The character of Madeline is slick, confident, and effortlessly devious. All these attributes keep us as the audience fixated on her. This is yet another fantastic performance from Moore.
Sebastian Stan’s role is also very interesting. He isn’t nearly as classy as Madeline, but he is just as devious. We see more layers to him as the film progresses. Like Moore, Stan also turns in an impressive performance.
The relationship between Moore and Stan is one of the central aspects of the storyline and I really liked what they did with it. They have really great chemistry and make a formidable pair here.
The two remaining characters are Tom and Sandra, played by Justice Smith and Briana Middleton. These two provide something different from what Moore and Stan provide, and that’s great because it helps round out the plot. Middleton is especially impressive and gives a nuanced performance. I look forward to seeing her in more!
I would be remiss to not praise the style, class, and fashion Sharper possesses. Because of the level of wealth that exists here, there is no shortage of immaculate clothing, handbags, and jewelry. Julianne Moore gets to have a lot of fun with her wardrobe.
The set design and overall aesthetic is also really smooth, which is very fitting. The music choices are also really well suited, and assist in tone setting. My favorite song choice is ‘Dirty Laundry’ by Don Henley.
The final check mark on the technical side of things is the cinematography. The direction by Benjamin Caron is admirable and clean. I was curious to see how they were going to wrap this up. I was very happy with how the final dominos fell.
The ending is quite smart and very satisfying. I assumed that two characters in particular would have a certain thing happen, but I wasn’t sure how they’d make it come to fruition. I had a smile on my face as the credits rolled. There really is a delicious nature to it all.
Sharper is a conman thriller that is wonderfully entertaining due to an intelligent script and a fantastic cast. Give this one a watch. You will not be disappointed!
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