Films about con men are notoriously difficult to pull off. With just the right tone, cast and script, the results can be exhilarating and fresh (Ocean’s Eleven, for instance). But without the perfect elements in place, moviegoers can feel like they’re the ones being swindled. Focus – the latest vehicle for rapper-turned-TV-actor-turned-biggest-movie-star-on-the-planet Will Smith – toes that line for much of its 105-minute runtime, but ultimately, the film winds up being fun and enticing enough to win over its audience.
Attention Star Warsfans! Those of you who have an affinity for the Skywalker adventures in a galaxy far, far away finally have a gateway into the minds of people who just think the George Lucas-created franchise is a bunch of sci-fi gobbledygook and flashy but soulless special effects. Because, without a doubt, Jupiter Ascending must be what they see when they look at The Empire Strikes Back.
