Hustlers

The cast also includes Trace Lysette, whose role as a club performer works as a triple threat. Although she was not involved in the story, Lysette worked at the real establishment when and where it all happened. After showing the world her talents in projects such as Transparent, she is now one of the too few trans actors appearing in a major movie, and, on top of that, it is quite significant that her character gender is not part of the plot. Understanding who one is and their journey is an important aspect of a person or a role, it feels great to see that we are getting closer to an era where trans actors play who they want to be (even a tree!) without making a big deal out of it.

“…we are getting closer to an era where trans actors play who they want to be (even a tree!) without even making a big deal out of it.”

Lastly, regarding the cast, we have to talk about the most genuine and effective, or maybe genuinely effective, cameo of all time! By now, it is no secret or spoiler that Usher is playing himself in Hustlers. His presence set the net on fire and made moviegoers lose their minds in theaters when his character – him circa 2008 – enters the club (as one of his most appropriate hit of the time plays!) at one of the film’s peaks. This particular scene might be one of the craziest and admirable seen on screen this year. It is shot like a music video, which is not something one had not seen before – unless one lived under a rock for most of the last two decades – and, in this context, could be laughable, but instead, it is mesmerizing, with sleek cinematography, neon lights, glitters and an epic “making it rain moment.”

So, at this point, is it also fair to talk about music. The soundtrack is composed of a contemporary and period-accurate piece from the likes of Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, or Lorde. For better or worse, the songs were chosen specifically as it seems their lyrics illustrate what is happening, and the moods of the songs almost always perfectly matched, akin to a “background musical” of sorts. This was maybe not to everybody’s taste as it appeared heavy, or too easy like a “cheap trick”…but for the core audience Hustlers appealed to, this “contemporary nostalgia” worked to rousing effect!