As the old adage goes, we should never trust appearances. Tom, played by Justice Smith (Jurassic World. The world after), is a discreet and passionate young bookseller who sees his life turned upside down the day Sandra, dazzling Briana Middleton (The Tender Bar), crosses the threshold of his New York boutique. Almost instantly, he falls under the spell of this doctoral student in feminist literature from a dysfunctional family, Sandra’s brother seems to have serious financial problems… While he himself maintains complicated ties with his wealthy father and his new stepmother, Tom does not hesitate to offload part of the family fortune to help his girlfriend. Until the end of this first chapter of Sharperdirector and producer Benjamin Caron (The Crown, Andor) piques the curiosity of the viewer who has been promised secrets, lies and jealousy in an enigmatic synopsis.
Disoriented, even a bit skeptical, we begin the next chapter, entitled Sandrain which we go back in time to meet Max, played by Sebastian Stan (Pam Tommy), a manipulative and perverse character. From that moment, we question everything that has just passed before our eyes, and good feelings suddenly don the dark clothes of greed and betrayal. Let the action begin!
Betrayed by repetition
Then comes the passage devoted to Max – the feature film follows this narrative framework where each chapter is devoted to the protagonist met previously, until the last, Sandy. It is precisely at this moment, unfortunately, that the shoe pinches. The screenplay by Brian Gatewood (Baby sitter Despite him) and Alessandro Tanaka (Superstore), though well put together in the first part since we didn’t have time to see it pass, collapses like a house of cards as soon as Julianne Moore’s characters enter the scene (Still Alice) and John Lithgow (dexter), Madeline and Richard. The suspense melts like snow in the sun and we wait less for the end of the film to be disconcerted than to confirm that our hypothesis was the right one… Unsurprisingly, the scales tip in favor of the second option, even if we have to admit that ‘a twist finale slightly reshuffles the cards and brings us out of our torpor.
It would be very unfair not to underline finally that the viewing of Sharper worth it, if you have two hours to kill, if only for the performances delivered by the actors. We think of course of Briana Middleton, who is undoubtedly the revelation of the film, but also of Julianne Moore, as usual excellent, and Sebastian Stan, who brilliantly interpret characters as detestable and story-telling as each other. Special mention also for the wonderful work of the film’s cinematographer, Charlotte Bruus Christensen (Without a sound), and the equally remarkable one by editor Yan Miles (Brothers in arms).