Critic's Notebook

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MOVIE REVIEW
Hustlers (2019)

By SARAH MANVEL

What an entrance. About 10 minutes into “Hustlers,” Jennifer Lopez does a pole-dance routine that will go down in cinematic history as one of the most unforgettable character introductions since Rita Hayworth in “Gilda.” And this time it’s to no less of a song than “Criminal” by Fiona Apple. Constance Wu has nothing to do but stare in shock, and man, do we agree with her. The next scene is of Ms. Lopez in that outfit and a fur coat on a rooftop, smoking and looking so unbelievably beautiful that you almost forget you’re watching a based-on-a-true-story movie about a gang of strippers who drug and rob a bunch of men. As bait to get us on a hook, “Hustlers” uses the power of Ms. Lopez’s body very, very effectively. But it doesn’t reel us in as far as we should.

Continue reading “Baiting for Tonight” »

MOVIE REVIEW
The Longshots (2008)

By ROBERT LEVIN

Tony Rivetti Jr./Dimension Films

Unless something special happens, most sports movies adhere
to a depressingly standardized template. You know the drill: Against all odds, underdog character/squad achieves
success in whatever chosen competition, with an inspirational coach and a
soundtrack full of reliable pop tunes to boot. Successful entries in the genre transcend the format by finding some
sort of different, interesting angle with which to approach it, or by presenting
characters so well rounded and likable that it’s hard to root against them.

Continue reading “Sports Clichés Keep Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’” »