Sharper review: The con is on for Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan (2024)

(L-R:) Justice Smith and Julianne Moore in Sharper Image: Courtesy Apple TV+

A sharper is someone who “lives by their wits,” as the opening onscreen text of Sharper informs us. The term could describe nearly every character in this twisty thriller, as well as director Benjamin Caron and writers Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka, who repeatedly, but fairly, con the audience with deceptive storytelling. This definition appears above an image of a watch being meticulously assembled. While a watch does play a small role in the story, this is primarily a metaphor for the careful clockwork construction of Sharper itself.

Were it not for that opening explanation—as well as advance publicity as to what sort of film this is—you might at first mistake it for a gentle romance. Tom (Justice Smith) is a sweet, withdrawn owner of a New York City bookstore that has, among its treasures, a first edition of Jane Eyre. When Sandra (Briana Middleton), a doctoral student, enters the store and mentions Jane Eyre as the book that changed her life, she obviously stirs something in Tom and romance ensues.

Sandra has a ne’er-do-well brother, who owes some bad guys $350,000, and is surprised when Tom—the owner of a money-losing shop—offers to give her the dough. His father, he explains, is fabulously wealthy, a titan of finance. His relationship with Dad is strained by the latter’s disapproval of his bookish, non-aggressive personality and his utter lack of interest in business. As you might guess, this is all a scam. Twenty minutes into the film, Sandra disappears; Tom is heartbroken.

This is where the film’s overall structure begins to reveal itself. Sandra’s whole persona is a fraud. We leap back into the past: Sandra, a junkie on parole, is picked up by Max (Sebastian Stan), an upfront con man, who trains her to be exactly the woman Tom will be attracted to … all to set up the $350K grift.

But then we leap back again to focus on Max, who shows up at the apartment of his well-to-do mom, Madeline (Julianne Moore). She’s dating a rich man (John Lithgow), and Max hits him up for another, even bigger, grift. But even that isn’t the end of the deceptions or the final goal of this succession of ultimate bad-faith players. And to say any more would ruin the fun. The film operates like a clockwork mechanism. If there were foul-ups or major implausibilities—as such trick plots often have—they eluded me.

The cast all deliver in spades. Moore, being by far the biggest star, gets top billing, though she doesn’t show up until nearly the halfway mark. She’s clearly having fun, especially with the character’s sexiness. (Lithgow, the other name actor, has a much smaller role and gets an “and with” credit.)

Stan, best known for playing the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just radiates sleaziness. He makes no attempt to enlist the audience’s sympathy. Smith’s Tom is the only wholly likeable character, though Middleton, despite Sandra’s conniving deceits, manages to remain sympathetic. You can readily understand why Tom would fall so hard for her, even without the bogus persona Max has created for her. She has a certain quality that will serve her well in less morally compromised roles.

Sharper — Official Trailer | Apple TV+

While the construction and the succession of reversals and revelations are cleverly executed, this doesn’t rise to the level of the really great puzzle films—The Usual Suspects, The Last Of Sheila, or The Sting (to which it bears the closest resemblance). But it is wholly satisfying and keeps us on our toes until the final moments. Caron, a veteran music video and TV director (The Crown and Sherlock), makes an impressive fictional feature debut. Screenwriters Gatewood and Tanaka (who also penned David Gordon Green’s The Sitter) likewise show an inventiveness and steady hand in balancing their complex structure.

This is a film that paints a pretty negative picture of modern life … or, at least, life in New York. Nearly everybody gets hustled, even as they are running their own hustles. In the end, the irony is that the sharpest of them all is the only one who isn’t a sharper.

(Sharper opens in limited release on February 10 before premiering on Apple TV+ on February 17.)

Sharper review: The con is on for Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan (2024)

FAQs

Who is the con artist in Sharper movie? ›

"Sandra" is revealed to be Sandy, a parolee with a long criminal history. One night, before her relationship with Tom, Sandy is meeting with a corrupt parole officer, who attempts to shake her down for money. The officer is paid off by an apparently wealthy man, Max, who is actually a con artist.

Is Sharper worth watching? ›

a top-notch thriller that's as surprising as it is entertaining. Fresh score. A New World Order noir in political death throes but still clinging to relevance even while withering away globally, Sharper gets it right unmasking without mercy US cutthroat culture.

What is the plot of Sharper? ›

Synopsis. Tom is the owner of a used bookstore in New York City. One day, a woman named Sandra comes in looking for a book, and after initially declining his advances, the two begin a romance. Weeks into their relationship, Sandra tells Tom that her brother is in debt and must pay $350,000 or be killed.

Where do I watch Sharper? ›

Sebastian Stan and Briana Middleton in "Sharper," now streaming on Apple TV+. Julianne Moore and Justice Smith in "Sharper," now streaming on Apple TV+. John Lithgow and Julianne Moore in "Sharper," now streaming on Apple TV+. Sebastian Stan, Julianne Moore and John Lithgow in "Sharper," now streaming on Apple TV+.

Is Sandra a con artist in Sharper? ›

Now, it's his turn to confront the three main con artists of the story (Madeline, Max, and Sandra) about stealing not just the $350K he gave to the woman he was falling for, but the $9.2 billion that his dad left to his new wife, Madeline, before his death.

Who is Max's mom in Sharper? ›

Julianne Moore (one of the film's producers, along with her husband Bart Freundlich) gets her own title card as “Madeline,” Max's mother, a simpering widow who is trying to make her troubled son get along with her absurdly wealthy second husband (John Lithgow).

Is Sharper on Netflix? ›

After a limited theatrical release on February 10 that allows Sharper to be eligible for industry awards recognition down the road, the suspenseful drama and psychological thriller is out today — streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.

Where does Sharper take place? ›

The Army SHARP Academy at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is the Army's designated proponent for all aspects of SHARP education, training and leader development. An educated Army community led by knowledgeable, informed leaders is essential to establishing a climate of prevention and ensuring comprehensive responses.

What happens to Tom in Sharper? ›

Sharper movie ending explained:

Madeline lunges for the gun, grabs it, and points it at Tom. Tom goads Madeline, telling her to do it—and then he does it for her. He walks forward, pushes the gun in Madeline's hand to his chest, and then forces her to pull the trigger. He falls back into a pool of his own blood.

Is Sharper a horror movie? ›

Parents need to know that Sharper is a neo-noir thriller about con artists working among the affluent residents of New York City.

What is the movie Sharper on Apple TV about? ›

What happens in the shrapnel movie? ›

In SHRAPNEL, two teen girls from Texas go missing after attending a party in Juárez, Mexico. The father of one girl, former Marine Sean Beckwith (Jason Patric), takes matters into his own hands. In Mexico, he finds the girls' car, but when he goes to get the local police, the car vanishes.

Is Sharper a good movie? ›

The psychological thriller “Sharper” begins with an on-screen definition of its title word: “One who lives by their wits.” While you may find yourself wishing this movie, directed by Benjamin Caron (whose credits include multiple episodes of “The Crown”), was just a bit sharper, it's an engrossing-enough tale of con ...

Who is the singer in the movie Sharper? ›

Sharper (2023) - Samara Joy as Singer - IMDb.

What channel is the Sharper on? ›

Sharper is on Apple TV+ now. Find out what else is on streaming platforms this month by checking out our handy guide.

Who is Peggy the con artist? ›

Peggy Ann Fulford, 65, claimed she was a Harvard graduate who had amassed a small fortune on Wall Street when pitching her services to sports stars including Rodman and NFL legend Ricky Williams.

Who is Madeline in Sharper? ›

Sharper (2023) - Julianne Moore as Madeline - IMDb.

Who plays Tom in Sharper? ›

Sharper (2023) - Justice Smith as Tom - IMDb.

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