Focus Movie Review: Focus (2015), directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, combines romance, drama, and a hint of thriller within the glamorous yet treacherous world of con artistry. Starring Will Smith as the seasoned grifter Nicky Spurgeon and Margot Robbie as his spirited protégé Jess Barrett, the film follows their complex relationship as it intertwines with a series of high-stakes cons. While Focus received mixed reviews, its stylish visuals, charismatic leads, and exploration of trust and deception make it a captivating, if occasionally flawed, portrayal of love and betrayal in a world built on lies.
Focus Movie Synopsis
Nicky and Jess: The Charismatic Con Duo
The film opens with Nicky Spurgeon, a charismatic and calculating con artist, who’s mastered the art of manipulating people. One night, in a sleek hotel, he encounters Jess Barrett, a novice con artist who attempts to scam him in a scene that is as flirtatious as it is humorous. Jess, portrayed by Margot Robbie, is bold and ambitious, yet lacks the finesse and skill that Nicky has perfected over years of deception. Recognizing her potential, Nicky takes Jess under his wing, and together, they embark on a thrilling partnership that quickly turns romantic. Their chemistry is electric, creating a dynamic that drives much of the film’s momentum and adds emotional depth to the narrative.
The Super Bowl Con: High Stakes and Thrilling Tension
The partnership between Nicky and Jess reaches its peak during a meticulously orchestrated con at the Super Bowl, one of the film’s most intense sequences. Here, Nicky’s mastery of the con game becomes evident as he maneuvers every detail with almost obsessive precision. He even gets pulled into a risky, high-stakes bet with a wealthy businessman (played by B.D. Wong), heightening the tension and showcasing his thrill-seeking nature. Jess’s awe and discomfort in this scene reveal the darker side of Nicky’s personality—a man willing to risk everything for the thrill of winning. This sequence combines psychological drama with the thrill of gambling and manipulation, making it one of the movie’s standout moments.
Complex Chemistry: Robbie and Smith’s Electrifying Connection
What sets Focus apart from other con films is the powerful chemistry between Smith and Robbie, which is palpable throughout the movie. Their dynamic is both charming and complex, with Robbie’s Jess embodying a youthful impulsivity that both attracts and unsettles Nicky. In a world filled with deception, Jess represents something genuine and real, yet Nicky’s manipulative tendencies ultimately create a divide between them. Their moments together range from playful to passionate to tense, bringing their characters to life and elevating the film beyond its occasionally shallow script. Smith infuses Nicky with a charismatic, guarded depth, while Robbie’s Jess is fresh, spirited, and captures both vulnerability and ambition.
A Shocking Separation: Nicky’s Abrupt Exit
After the Super Bowl con, Nicky unexpectedly ends their partnership and their romance, leaving Jess heartbroken. This twist comes as a shock to both Jess and the audience, revealing Nicky’s struggle with intimacy and vulnerability. Fast-forward three years, and we find Nicky in Buenos Aires, working on a high-stakes con involving billionaire motorsport owner Rafael Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro). Hired to sabotage Garriga’s competition through an elaborate espionage scheme, Nicky is shocked to discover that Jess is now involved with Garriga, posing as his lover. This encounter throws Nicky’s life into disarray, reintroducing a romantic rivalry and layering the plot with new tension.
A Shift in Genre: From Con Thriller to Romantic Drama
At this point, Focus transitions from a con thriller to a romantic drama, as themes of betrayal and unresolved attraction become more prominent. The film deftly builds tension by layering the complexities of Nicky and Jess’s relationship over the ongoing con, raising questions about loyalty, deception, and the boundaries between love and manipulation. Nicky and Jess reignite their romance, yet trust remains a constant challenge. For Nicky, a man who has built his life on deception, trusting Jess means confronting his vulnerabilities. Jess, burned once before, is cautious, unsure if Nicky’s feelings are real or simply part of another scheme.
Focus Movie Review
Plot Complexity: Intrigue or Convolution?
While Focus succeeds in portraying a layered romance, the plot starts to falter as it becomes overly complicated. By the film’s final act, audiences are faced with a series of twists and double-crosses that, while entertaining, feel forced and lack the depth needed to be genuinely satisfying. The plot’s intricate twists, especially the final reveal, come across as somewhat implausible, detracting from the overall tension and making it difficult to engage fully with the characters’ motivations. Con artist films thrive on tightly cohesive storylines where each twist feels inevitable in hindsight, and Focus occasionally loses this cohesion, leaving some twists feeling unearned.
Visuals: A World of Glamour and Danger
One of the most striking aspects of Focus is its polished visual style, which mirrors the careful, calculated nature of the cons themselves. Directors Ficarra and Requa create a visually appealing world that blends luxury with a sense of danger, and each frame feels meticulously curated. Cinematographer Xavier Grobet uses warm lighting and vibrant colors to emphasize the allure of Nicky and Jess’s world. From the neon-lit streets of New Orleans to the upscale scenes in Buenos Aires, the film exudes a glossy, high-stakes atmosphere that aligns well with the characters’ lifestyles.
Missed Opportunities: Themes of Trust and Betrayal
While Focus is visually stunning, it lacks the thematic depth that might have made it memorable. The story touches on themes of trust and betrayal but doesn’t explore them deeply enough to leave a lasting impact. Nicky’s motivations remain somewhat unclear, and while his relationship with Jess provides the film’s emotional core, audiences may question why someone as guarded as Nicky would risk everything for her. The chemistry between Smith and Robbie compensates for some of these narrative gaps, but it isn’t enough to fully elevate the story beyond its surface-level charm.
Soundtrack: A Sleek, Modern Vibe
The film’s soundtrack, composed by Nick Urata, complements its sleek, modern tone, accentuating the romance and tension between Nicky and Jess. However, the music, much like the script, functions more as an embellishment than a storytelling device, lacking the emotional weight to make the narrative truly resonate. While the soundtrack enhances the film’s stylish aesthetic, it doesn’t add much depth to the characters’ journeys or the story’s themes.
Conclusion
In the end, Focus is an enjoyable, stylish film that benefits from the charisma of its leads and the allure of its high-stakes world. It’s slick and occasionally clever, with standout moments, especially during the Super Bowl con. However, as the plot grows more intricate, it loses some of its emotional pull, and the twists start to feel more obligatory than earned. Smith and Robbie make the film worth watching, their performances breathing life into an otherwise conventional story of deception and desire.
Ultimately, Focus shines as a showcase for its stars, particularly Margot Robbie, whose breakout role here foreshadowed her rise in Hollywood. For fans of romantic thrillers and con artist dramas, Focus offers a sleek, entertaining escape, even if its plot ultimately lacks the depth needed to leave a lasting impression. It’s a film that dazzles with its surface-level charm, but behind the polished veneer, it misses the emotional weight and thematic complexity that could have made it truly memorable.