On paper, ‘Focus’ has everything it takes to become a real hit: behind the camera were the directors and screenwriters Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’), in front of them the superstars Will Smith and Margot Robbie. and there is one too. A villain story in the tradition of “Ocean’s Eleven” and Co. But the mix doesn’t work in “Focus”, FILMSTARTS gives it only 2 out of 5 stars.
Because as the conclusion of the FILMSTARTS review states: “’Focus’ is not just a film about fraudsters, but itself a sophisticated deception, which relies entirely on the star power of Will Smith. However, the calculation only works in individual scenes.”
What do we mean by that? In heist and villain films like ‘Focus’, there is a great art in not only surprising the audience with bizarre tricks and astonishing twists, but also in preparing them, referencing them and making them meaningful. So you shouldn’t just pull twists from a hat and do window dressing.
Or as our review says: “Glenn Ficarra and John Requa make us look at the very construction of the film itself, so to speak, and bluntly show us that they can do whatever they want – and that’s what they do.” This means that as the film progresses, interest diminishes more and more.
The star power of Will Smith & Margot Robbie isn’t enough either
And Even Will Smith’s star power and undeniable charisma can’t disguise ‘Focus”s weaknesses: “Its seductive power is not enough to disguise the fact that this overly chic picaresque with its lifeless luxurious settings, its endless elaborate twists and its characterless characters has no soul. And certainly no focus.”
If you don’t want to be deterred by our warning, can watch “Focus” for yourself on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 8:15 PM on Tele 5. Alternatively, the villain comedy is currently available to stream on Netflix, without commercial breaks and optionally in the English original.
The plot of “Focus”
One day, experienced thief and fraudster Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) is approached in a luxury hotel by young crook Jess (Margot Robbie), who wants to lure him to her room and rob him. However, Nicky quickly sees through the game, turns the tables and eventually becomes Jess’ mentor. Together they now plan a big heist at the Super Bowl in New Orleans, which will be a huge success. But is everyone here playing with open cards?