‘focus’ review: pete hammond on will smith’s sharp look at con artists

_Focus _is about a veteran con man played by Will Smith, who runs into a former protege, now _femme fatale, _played dexterously by Margot Robbie (_Wolf of Wall Street_), while he’s busy

trying to pull a new game. But the questions that keep coming up in this terrific little caper film, as I say in the video review above, are who is playing who, and when. With con artists

(and cynics might say with actors too), it’s hard to figure out who’s smitten, who’s playing someone for the fool and who’s doing both at the same time. Smith is as good as he’s been in a

while, and Robbie is every bit his on-screen equal. Other cast members include a very effective Gerald McRaney as the security director for the man both Smith and Robbie are pursuing, played

by Rodrigo Santoro. B.D. Wong is also in the cast. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa – who together produced, directed and/or wrote _Cats & Dogs, Bad Santa _and_ I Love You Phillip Morris _–

  wrote and directed this film together. Like their previous work, it’s expertly done, especially if you like the con-artist and caper film genre that they’re exploring here. The film, which

is being distributed by Warner Bros., debuts Friday in the United States. Denise Di Novi is the producer. Check out my review above. Will you be seeing the film? Let us know what you think.