Movie Review: Focus (+trailer)

Will Smith is a veteran scammer who takes Margot Robbie under his wing in Focus.

Forty-six years young, Will Smith must have thought he'd landed his dream role - working opposite emerging Aussie star Margot Robbie.

The beautiful Robbie, 24, is breaking hearts and turning heads with every new movie role and is certainly making her mark in Hollywood.

Robbie plays Jess, an emerging con artist who wants to learn from the best.

Nicky (Smith) is the best and runs an extensive ring targeting any scam he can pull off.

He knows the techniques and he knows the logic behind every scam he organises and pulls off.

After falling for Jess - a cardinal sin in his game - Nicky cuts her loose and disappears after pulling off a daring high-stakes scam at the Super Bowl.

As Nicky was taught a long time ago by his father, emotional attachments will result in only one thing - your demise.

The story moves on three years and Nicky is going after another huge pay day.

He has identified an opportunity in the Formula One motor racing world to scam multiple people and rake in millions.

But as he gets closer to the prize, a face from the past throws him off his game.

Jess is now the girlfriend of his target and Nicky doesn't know how to handle this discovery.

Trust, an important asset in a scammer's world, can also be incredibly difficult to find.

Nicky doesn't know if he can trust Jess, and she is equally confused.

What they both have is a mutual affection that is destined to override whatever scam they are pulling off.

Focus is full of surprises. On the surface it seems a rather straightforward story, but you never quite get the opportunity to sit back and relax because the story twists and turns so quickly.

Just when you think you have a handle on where the story is heading, it changes.
Focus promises plenty and delivers more.

Focus
(M), 115 minutes
Rating: 3.5/5 stars