“SHARPER” Movie Review

 

“SHARPER”

Movie Review

 

 

The American psychological thriller movie "Sharper," which was released in 2023, was directed by Benjamin Caron and written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka. Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton, and John Lithgow are among its cast members.

The movie's plot is as follows: Tom runs a secondhand business in New York City. Sandra, a woman who walks in looking for a book one day, first rejects his advances, but they later start dating. Sandra tells Tom that her brother is in debt and must pay $350,000 or be killed a few weeks into their relationship. Tom promises to pay the loan after disclosing his father's money. After giving Sandra the money, she vanishes, causing Tom to have a mental breakdown. It is discovered that Sandra has a lengthy criminal past and is now on parole. When she started dating Tom, she had a meeting with her parole officer one evening, who tried to extort money from her. Max, who appears to be wealthy but is actually a con artist, buys her off. He accepts Sandra as a partner and teaches her how to commit fraud. They engage in sexual activity after taking down their first target jointly. Max pays his mother Madeline and her new boyfriend, the wealthy Richard Hobbes, a visit at Richard's opulent apartment before joining forces with Sandra. Max persuades Madeline to let him remain at Richard's place despite the fact that he appears intoxicated and aggressive. The following day, Max appears to have been detained for allegedly buying cocaine from an undercover police officer when Madeline and Richard return home. Madeline picks up on Max's scheme to get Richard to pay off the cop who is also his buddy Tipsy very quickly. Max is ejected by Madeline from the apartment, but it turns out that Madeline and Max are lovers, not mother and son, and that they are after Richard. When Max and Richard meet, he requests that Madeline be left alone so that they can spend time together in cash equal to a year's salary. Max encounters Richard's son Tom, who hasn't yet met Sandra, while he is meeting with him. While Madeline informs Max that Richard wants to marry her and that she would be staying with him that evening, Max, Madeline, and Tipsy nonetheless celebrate a job well done. Max flees the police that Madeline has called and takes the cash. After Richard passes away, Madeline inherits the large majority of his estate. Tom is restricted from working in the bookstore because Richard has doubts about him following the event with Sandra. In addition, he has been appointed head of Richard's foundation, and Madeline is a trustee. Braddock, a longtime family friend, is hired by Tom to find Sandra. Sandra is discovered to be severely addicted to heroin, despite Madeline's best efforts to persuade Tom to end the probe. While she undergoes detox, Tom wants her to stay at the flat, but Madeline is hesitant. Sandra, who she chats to, admits that she is aware of Madeline and Max's connection. Sandra wants Madeline to find Max so she can confront him about leaving her in exchange for her silence. Sandra and Madeline's meeting with Max is accepted. Tom and Braddock show up during the meeting to support Tom's concerns that the three had been collaborating. To start with Sandra, Tom pulls a revolver, then Madeline. Madeline picks up the gun after Sandra yanks it from Tom's hands and seems to shoot and kill Tom when he commands her to direct the weapon at him and press the trigger. Madeline quickly sends all the funds to Richard's organization out of desperation to stay out of jail. Max, Madeline, and Sandra board a flight for Oklahoma City. Max is reminded by Madeline that because Tom is deceased and she is the trustee of Richard's foundation, she will continue to be in charge of the funds. Sandra retreats to the restroom in tears, and Madeline notices that the fake blood on her sleeve indicates Tom is still alive. Sandra is gone when Madeline checks the restroom. The true nature of the scam is revealed; Sandra, who prefers to go by "Sandy," tells Tom the truth, and the two come up with a plan to defraud Madeline and Max. They enlist Tipsy and his colleague Goldie, who pretended to be "Braddock," to help them. Both Sandra and Max's rendezvous and Tom's apparent shooting at Madeline's hands were prearranged. Tom still has authority over the foundation and the funds because he is still alive. To celebrate their accomplishment, Tom, Sandra, Tipsy, and Goldie get together at the bookstore. Sandra and Tom start to renew their romance.

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