Heroes or criminals? “Hustlers” sheds light on what a stripper’s life may actually consist of in a thrilling story of money, success and despair. Get your cash ready, because you will be making it rain for the acting, visuals and plot.
In 2014, four women were accused and later arrested on charges of taking $200,000 from a doctor, a banker, a hedge fund executive and a real estate lawyer. These women – Samantha Barbash, Roselyn Keo, Karina Pasucci and Marsi Rosen – achieved this crime by slipping drugs into the men’s drinks, taking them to the strip club Scores in Chelsea, New York or Roadhouse Gentlemen’s Club in Queens, New York, and charging tens of thousands of dollars to the credit cards of these men. Then later, the women received cash from the club.
“Hustlers” is inspired by this exact event.
In 2007, Destiny, a new stripper to the club, wanted to earn more and learn new moves, so lead stripper Ramona took Destiny under her wing. This led to a friendship filled with laughs and stress, but also money.
When the 2008 recession hit, the club lost its lead clientele, the millionaires of Wall Street. Ramona decided to take matters into her own hands, teaming up with fellow strippers Mercedes and Annabelle to drug men at bars. After the men were drugged, they were taken to the strip club where the strippers would rack up their credit cards in order to get compensated by the club.
During this time, Destiny was dealing with family issues, so she left the club for a while. Eventually, Ramona hooked her into this new way of making money. However, this peak of success was eventually terminated.
“Hustlers” shows that even in a controversial profession, a person is still human. Strippers are people, too, which is a concept emphasized through the characters Destiny and Ramona. They emulate the importance of family values, motherhood and sisterhood through friendship.
The movie also had a diverse cast; a feat that all major motion pictures should strive to achieve. Destiny was played by Constance Wu, a Taiwanese woman who comes from immigrant parents. Ramona was played by Jennifer Lopez (J Lo), a Puerto Rican woman. Other notable women in the movie were Keke Palmer, African American, as Mercedes; and Cardi B, African American and Dominican, as Diamond. Overall, it was pleasant seeing more than just skinny, white girls work a pole.
Aside from the plot, Director Lorene Scafaria used intriguing visuals, such as moments of complete silence and black screens, to hook the audience and leave viewers wanting more.
In the end, “Hustlers” is more than a tale of strippers. It showcases women empowerment, diversity, family values and friendship. On the flip side, it also shows how the lust for money can make people get it by any means – even through illegal activities.
By Kathy Williams, Contributing Writer
williakp18@bonaventure.edu
