Film Review #040 - Focus (2015)



1. Film Facts

Genre: "Focus" (2015) is a romantic crime comedy-drama film.

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures was the distributor of "Focus."

Production Budget: The production budget for "Focus" was approximately $50.1 million.

Worldwide Gross: The film grossed around $159 million worldwide.

Story/Book Basis: "Focus" is not based on a book or pre-existing story. It is an original screenplay.

Directors and Writers: The film was directed and written by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. They are also known for directing films like "I Love You Phillip Morris" (2009) and "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011).

Notable Actors:

  • Will Smith played the lead role of Nicky Spurgeon. Smith is famous for his roles in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Men in Black" series, "Independence Day," and "I Am Legend."

  • Margot Robbie played Jess Barrett. Robbie is known for her roles in "Barbie", "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Suicide Squad," and "I, Tonya."

  • Rodrigo Santoro played Garriga. Santoro is known for "300" and "Westworld."

  • Adrian Martinez: played as Farhad. He has appeared in movies like "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (2013), and "Casa de mi Padre" (2012)

  • Gerald McRaney played Owens. McRaney is known for "Simon & Simon," "Major Dad," and "This Is Us."

Soundtrack Composer: The soundtrack for "Focus" was composed by Nick Urata, who is known for his work on films like "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006) and "Ruby Sparks" (2012).

2. Spoiler Free Review

Plot: "Focus" delves into the intricate world of scammer schemes, particularly focusing on scams and frauds. 

Screenplay: The script in the first half of the movie captivates with thought-provoking dialogue and witty jokes. Will Smith's lines, in particular, stand out for their cleverness.

However, as the story progresses, it loses some of its initial charm. Screenplay was not the strongest one in the second half of the movie. Hence, it became uninteresting and felt odd. The plot, while initially promising, becomes confusing and overstretched, missing the opportunity to fully explore and develop its potential. The storyline seems to wander without a clear destination, leaving an impression of being just above average.

Cinematography: On a technical level, the cinematography is impressive. The precise use of close-up, extreme close-up, and over-the-shoulder shots, as well as the innovative back-to-back profile, overhead, and worm's-eye views, add a dynamic visual flair to the film. The lighting, especially in night scenes, is perfect, creating an atmosphere of intimacy, also the depth with its unfocused lights.

Locations: The film's setting in New Orleans during the winter season adds a unique vibe, and the clear accents from the actors enhance the overall experience. 

Music: Musically, the film transitions smoothly from fast-paced jazz to upbeat hip-hop, enriching the scenes with auditory texture.

Actors: While Will Smith and Margot Robbie deliver strong performances individually, I thought their on-screen chemistry lacks the intimate energy. To me, it felt odd.

The honorable mention for the movie was Adrian Martinez’s character. His lines added some comedic moments to the scene. The actor Robert Taylor with his Australian accent delivered a commendable performance.

Iconic Scene: The football betting scene is the most iconic one. If it is true, I felt that this scene was pure improvisation. Although the scene is long, it is filled with important details that make its length worthwhile. 

I like how one IMDB user ThereelscoopwithKK said: “The scene at the football game is epic though. That scene alone made the film worth watching for me. Brilliantly set up and acted by all involved. In fact I'd recommend you skip the movies and just watch that scene on YouTube.

Pace: The film would benefit from a faster pace, considering its duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes. Certain scenes, particularly those without much action, tend to prolong and disrupt the flow of the story.

Conclusion: In conclusion, as IMDB user kosmasp perfectly said: “Focus is not a really good movie. It's not a really bad movie either though. Even though the movie impresses with its cinematography and standout performances, its storytelling could use some improvement, resulting in a film that feels like it could have been even better. 

Rating: 6/10

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