fine whine

The grifters sucked. Despite its critical acclaim and near-universal high ratings, this "modern noir classic" did not appeal to me once the opening credits ended. Scored by Elmer Bernstein, they were marginally cool. Unfortunately, from that point on even the score stunk. It was wholly inappropriate at least a third of the time, as though being used to create tension, suspense or just creepiness where none could be mustered onscreen. One scene I fail to remember well seemed to have Psycho-shower-scene dissonant strings over visuals of Anjelica Huston putting money into her trunk. Spooky... not.

This is much like 21 grams. Well-liked (or at least respected) actors chosen for their looks and appeal to drum up sympathy for otherwise unsympathetic roles just don't cut the mustard for me. I just didn't care about anybody on screen.

Moreover, it's not even a good movie about con men and women, here referred to as "grifters" in a panoply of repetition remniscient of Mamet's "the job" or "the thing" except that it fails to roll off the tongue even a bit as naturally.

Mentioning Mamet brings to mind a superior con game film, The Spanish prisoner. It could be argued that Grifters fails as a con movie as it happens to focus on the hapless crooks and not their schemes. That's not enough of an excuse. Look at the rollicking fun of The flim-flam man or the intricate plotting in The sting. Hell, go out and watch Matchstick men. Just leave The grifters on its critical pedestal to continue collecting dust.