Master con-artist Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) takes aspiring thief Jess Barrett (Margot Robbie) under his wing, after she unsuccessfully tries to hustle him. She's a quick study as the new "intern" in his underground empire, and as her skills increase, so do the complications of their relationship.
Moving from New York City to New Orleans to Buenos Aires, the movie focuses largely on swank hotels, expensive jewelry, and Smith and Robbie's dazzling faces. Rising-star Robbie in particular steals as many scenes as she does watches.
Amid the largely rushed scenes is one elaborate set-piece at a major football event (which legally cannot be called the Super Bowl). This is where the separate elements of romance, thriller, suspense, drama, and comedy most successfully intermingle, as Nicky and Jess tangle with high-rolling gambler Liyuan (B.D. Wong).
The final act loses momentum, ironically, with race car magnate Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro) hiring Nicky to swindle his competitors with a fake fuel-burning formula (though the exposition of this point is lightning fast). Garriga's suspicious security expert Owens (Gerald McRaney) gives a much-needed push to the stalled plot, as does Nicky's foul-mouthed sidekick Farhad (Adrian Martinez).
Still, these moments are like watching a racing pit crew furiously change the tires, while nobody is behind the wheel. Or too many are behind the wheel (co-writers/directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa). If this movie is about the art of misdirection, that may be true in more ways than one. "Focus" wants to be too many things, and, well, loses its focus.
| Movie title | Focus |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2015 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | This heist movie wants to be too many things, and, well, loses its focus. |
