Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Hustlers" (2019)

Scene from Hustlers (2019)

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.

Review: "Hustlers" Steals Your Heart with Humor and Meaning

Scene from Hustlers (2019)

When thinking of exotic dancers, a certain image comes to mind. It's a stereotype of a down-on-their-luck woman exploiting her body for money as she spins around a pole. It's never an act of celebration, but one done of desperation, often ending in sadness. In one scene especially, director Lorene Scafaria's excellent new heist drama Hustlers finds a deeper empathy on a rooftop between veteran Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) and newcomer Destiny (Constance Wu). As Destiny walks around in the cold in her performance outfit, Ramona opens her lavish coat, encouraging her to sit in comfort with her. For the first time, a world of exotic dancers has become a place of hospitality, and one full of people drawn together in an act of protection. It's the first of many sweet moments that excel this seemingly seedy film into the heights of hilarity and social commentary. Sure, the exotic dancers may be down-on-their-luck, but this isn't a sad story. It's one of overcoming economic struggles and finding deeper meaning in your life.