SHARPER (2023)

An intelligent cat and mouse game is afoot in the delightfully puzzling and entertaining Sharper, a film that boasts some top-notch performances from a truly talented cast.

A con artist (Sebastian Stan) takes on an elite Manhattan family, but the tangled web being woven will lead to unexpected betrayals and revelations in Sharper. Writers Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka have crafted an intelligent puzzle of a plot that director Benjamin Caron packages in a sleek, smart package. The cinematography is sharp (no pun intended) and the soundtrack is pitch perfect. There are about four or five points in the film where I thought I had it figured out, yet Sharper had another twist up its sleeve. This is truly one of those films that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Though the structure may challenge some viewers in determining the sequencing of events, the story itself is a captivating one thanks to the engrossing performances by all involved. Julianne Moore is a force to be reckoned with, here given a juicy role that allows her to flex her acting chops. The same goes for John Lithgow who takes a minor role and knocks it out of the park with an intense, confident delivery. Briana Middleton and Justice Smith each bring passion and authenticity to their roles while Stan is a bit underutilized, but still engrossing as the bad boy. Quite honestly, the performances are flawless.

More films like this, please!

Sharper is now playing in limited theaters and streaming on Apple TV+.

Rating: 4/5