Who can you trust? Apparently, no one in Sharper, a psychological thriller film that delves deep into the cutthroat world of Manhattan’s elite con artists. In a high-stakes game of ambition, greed, passion, and power, Sharper ebbs and flows to the tune of Crash and the intensity of The Game.
Sharper’s opening salvo defines a “sharper” as someone who “lives on their wits,” though, this is more a game of Bullshit than Chess, or both. Still, the term sums up every character in this suspenseful thriller, whether they’re aware of it or not, as well as the director Benjamin Caron, and authors Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka, deceiving viewers until the curtains close.
The definition of “sharper” is fixed above an image of a watch being painstakingly repaired and put back together. However, while a watch plays a small part in the plot, a much more fitting interpretation of this for most viewers will be how well this film is stitched together; Sharper was built like a well-oiled machine.
Shaper, Apple+
Director: Benjamin Caron
Cast: Julianne Moore as Madeline; Sebastian Stan as Max; Justice Smith as Tom; Briana Middleton as Sandra; John Lithgow as Richard Hobbes
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Producers: Julianne Moore, Jessica Switch, Brian Gatewood, Bart Freundlich, and Alessandro Tanaka.
Writers: Alessandro Tanaka and Brian Gatewood
How does Sharper begin? It depends
Sharper centers on Tom (Justice Smith), a bookstore owner recovering from a breakup when he meets Sandra (Briana Middleton), a “student” who graduated from his alma mater two years after him. The two hit it off rather quickly as they share an almost suspicious number of interests. Both speak Italian, love literature, and live in the shadows of their parents.
However, their honeymoon phase ends rather abruptly, as Sandra’s brother Jason makes a surprise and unsettling visit to Sandra’s place; he needs her help to pay off a debt, again, and he’s into it with the wrong group of people. Sandra tells Tom she’s worried that Jason will steal the money from her, but ultimately, she’s going to help him because he’s her brother. The problem is, he needs $350,000 to call it even with these so-called “bad guys.”
The $350,000 price tag doesn’t scare Tom though, he’s ready to give. In a heroic moment for the love-struck bibliophile, Tom doesn’t flinch at the astronomical ransom, he loves her, and besides, it’s not his money we learn. Unfortunately for Tom, however, Sandra disappears as soon as the two part ways, leaving Tom in anguish the next day as he pleads for her to open the door to her apartment (she’s gone and there’s nothing there). He isn’t sure whether he’s been had or Sandra has been killed, but he’s devastated nonetheless.
Spoiler alert: he’s been had. There’s so much more to the story, but we’ll need to put a pin in it for now. We’ll soon meet the “sharpers” who designed the devious ploy, as the Apple exclusive picks up the pace with the introduction of Max (Sebastian Stan), Madeline (Julianne Moore), and Richard (John Lithgow). No one is innocent.
Cutting the fat off of Sharper
We can see how clever this script thinks it is from that setup, I guess. It’s one of those chronological jumbles that streamers enjoy because it keeps viewers fawning over every character on screen in a nonlinear back-and-forth that presses the question, “who’s the real antagonist?” There are no true protagonists, at least, not until the end of the third act, when the dragon is finally slayed – or was it? This is Memento meets Black List.
Watching the suspense machine in action, though, is a simple pleasure. Even though I knew how it was going to end long before it did, the performances are a real treat; these types of films aren’t as common as they once were.
While Middleton has a lot to manage as Sandra/Sandy transforms half a dozen times, most of the skilled ensemble is only somewhat pushed by the writing (though it’s entertaining to see Moore chew on something that lets her be more humorous).
Although it would be fun to talk about Tom and Sandra’s relationship separately from the how, when, and why the other shoe drops, doing so would most certainly spoil it. What we can say is Sebastian Stan (Max) is a charming devil at his worst, in one of his best performances yet. Max appears to have it all—a life of comfort and wealth—and yet enjoys a good con, almost too much.
At least that’s the impression we have of the man when his family life is finally revealed, appearances are deceiving.
Madeline (Julianne Moore), a widow with considerable wealth who is dating Richard (John Lithgow), a widower with far more wealth and power, is the last missing piece (and the linear third act begins). In a twist, Madeline is introduced as Max’s mother, who spoils her badly behaved son out of love or guilt or just because she doesn’t know any better, to the detriment of her love life.
Again, to say more would reveal too much. Needless to say, there is yet another game afoot.
Sharper holds a 7.2 rating on IMDb
Streaming This Weekend has given Sharper a projected audience score of 84
Steam or skip Sharper?
Sharper, a slow-burning mystery thriller, will do its damnedest to sidestep decency, portraying a somewhat dismal view of contemporary life, or at least of life in New York. Even when they’re running their own hustles, almost everyone is in on the scam and being scammed, simultaneously. Ironically, the sharpest of them all is the only one who isn’t a “sharper.”
Overall, Sharper is a smart and sophisticated thriller that boasts strong performances, a gripping plot, and stylish visuals. It’s a must-watch for fans of the genre, and a great example of how to create a thriller with substance.
On February 10, 2023, a select number of theaters played Sharper. It is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV+ on February 17, 2023.