‘Sharper’ – A Wicked Con Good Enough to Fool the Audience (Review)

A24 and Apple TV+’s new con artist film Sharper is currently playing in theaters and lands on Apple TV+ on February 17. The thrilling film has one of the best ensemble cast in recent films, that cast includes Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, John Lithgow, Justice Smith, and Briana Middleton. Directed by Benjamin Caron and written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka the film is wicked and good enough to con the audience.

Sharper shows its story in segments dedicated to each character of the film, In the first segment we meet Tom (Smith), a simple book clerk who has a meet-cute with a woman named Sandra (Middleton) but as the story progresses we see each character get conned and con each other in brutal and smart ways.

Sharper is a brilliantly written film and even though sometimes it does feel a bit overwritten, the great performances by the ensemble cast make up for what it lacks in the script. Sharper consists of smart characters that try to over smart each other at every turn which is the perfect recipe for a good con film, and Sharper is almost that a nearly perfect con film.

Sharper ensemble cast consists of great actors and everyone including Sebastian Stan, John Lithgow, Justice Smith, and Briana Middleton do a brilliant job with their characters but Julianne Moore definitely steals the show as the conniving Madeline Hobbes and the chemistry she shares with Max (Stan).

The film also looks brilliant with its cold and sharp frames that never let you warm up to the characters who are playing the game. Caron and Charlotte Bruus Christensen definitely have the chops to make a great film and they did. Because, Sharper looks the way it does and tells the story it tells, in my opinion, it will entertain you till its last second.

So, in conclusion, Sharper is a great film that does feel a bit overwritten but what it lacks in the script it makes up for with its great performances and thrilling moments.

CinemaBlind’s Review for Sharper: 7.3/10

Sharper is in theaters now and it lands on Apple TV+ on February 17. Check out the trailer for Sharper below: