Review of The Grifters (1990) by Mark G — 11 Jun 2007

In this stylish, throwback film noir John Cusack stars as a small con operator who gets caught in the act. In comes his girlfriend (Annette Bening) and his mother (Anjelica Huston) to his rescue at the hospital, both long con operators, both who meet in his hospital room for the first time.

At that moment they compete for Roy and not for his affection but the right to have him as their pawn.

British director Stephen Frears is merciless in showing how these individuals would have their professions disrupted by the matters of the heart, as the predators re- evaluate their victims. Huston, in her Oscar nominated performance, is especially tricky, because she has never related to Cusack as her son and more of a push-over boyfriend. Adapted from the pulp novel of Jim Thompson.