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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 12 sepTember 2019
In 'Hustlers,' Jennifer Lopez steals money, and the show

By JAKE COYLE a male-controlled industry.
Associated Press "People go into the movie
TORONTO (AP) — "Hustlers" expecting something be-
is, in itself, a hustle. cause stripper is a word
It looks like a flashy, glam- that has so many conno-
orous movie about strip- tations and preconceived
pers — all sparkle and skin notions," says Scafaria.
and high-heels. And it is "That's the hustle. Hopefully
that. But the fleshy, daz- we're subverting expecta-
zling surface of "Hustlers," tions but subverting them
written and directed by in a way that has some nu-
Lorene Scafaria, cloaks an ance to it."
empowering feminist tale "Hustlers," opening in the-
about a sisterhood of wom- aters this week following
en who turn the tables on its well-received premiere

Lorene Scafaria, left, writer/director of the film "Hustlers," poses with cast member Jennifer Lopez
during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Toronto.
Associated Press
at the Toronto Internation- Ramona, she's the matri- torts Scafaria, laughing.
al Film Festival, stars Jen- archal ringleader of an In just the past two years,
nifer Lopez as Ramona, improvised family of strip- Lopez has released new
a veteran stripper in New pers-turned-hustlers. (Cardi Spanish-language tracks,
York who takes a young B makes her big-screen launched a cosmetic
dancer (Constance Wu) debut, alongside a cast line, got engaged to for-
under her wing. Ramona including Lili Reinhart and mer baseball player Alex
organizes a scam to drug Keke Palmer.) Rodriguez and recently
Wall Street guys and max Lopez is, like Ramona, an concluded a 38-concert
out their credit cards. It's entrepreneur from the tour. Time Magazine has
loosely based on a true Bronx. She instantly identi- ranked her among the 100
story, chronicled in a 2015 fied with the role, even if most influential people in
New York magazine article, the stripping scenes gave the world. "Second Act,"
and set in the years after her pause. released in 2018, proved
the 2008 financial crisis — "It was scary. I saw the script movie audiences still love
when far greater, white- and it wasn't like boobs her. It grossed $72.2 million
collar swindles went largely everywhere. That wasn't worldwide. She's also a pro-
unprosecuted. (Scafaria's) thing," says Lo- ducer on "Hustlers."
The transactional world of pez. "But I also knew I was "People think 'Oh, she's not
strip clubs — so commonly playing a stripper and I'm a a serious recording artist.'
depicted from a male view- mom and what does that Or, 'she's not really a seri-
point in movies — has sel- all mean? But I felt good ous actress,' or 'She's not re-
dom been viewed through about how Lorene wanted ally a serious entrepreneur.'
a female gaze like it is in to tell the story and that it No, I'm very serious about
"Hustlers." It's a microcosm, was something I could be all of them. That's why I've
Lopez says, of America. proud of it." spent most of my life doing
"It's all a strip club," says Lo- Scafaria, the 41-year-old as many of those things as
pez. "You have people toss- writer of "Nick & Norah's possible," says Lopez. "Be-
ing the money and people Infinite Playlist," observed cause I do all those things, I
doing the dance. how much training Lopez don't get the credit at times
"This film says something put into the part. As expe- — which is fine, I don't care.
about the inequality that rienced a dancer as she is, I love what I do. I have the
we've been yelling and pole-dancing was some- most amazing life. I feel
screaming about for a thing else entirely. Lopez' good about my life. I feel
while now and kind of mak- resplendent entrance in good about where I am.
ing some headway," she the movie is a stage dance "But I've had to kind of
adds. "And I hate saying set to Fiona Apple's "Crimi- give myself that pat on my
that so broadly because nal" while being showered back: 'You're doing good,'"
I love men and there are with bills. she says. "Once I started
so many great, supportive "It was like acrobatics. I had doing that, my whole life
beautiful men in the world. to start lifting more weights. changed."
But there is this thing that I had to change my body," "Hustlers," however, already
exists that we can't deny." says Lopez. "I told her, 'I has a lot of people heap-
"Hustlers" might be Lopez's have to change my body if ing praise on Lopez. Scafar-
most radiant and regal I do this.'" ia says the part of Ramona
screen performance, too, "And I was like, 'Please "fits her like a glove — even
since Steven Soderbergh's don't. I don't know what if it's not a glove she's tried
1998 film "Out of Sight." As we're talking about,'" re- on in the same way."q