Seduction. Betrayal. Murder. Who’s conning who?
A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.
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Character
Classical in form, grave, meticulous and bleak.
- classical in formformally daring
- gravecomic
- rawmeticulous
- warmbleak
- sparerichly built
Who loves it, who doesn't
27 profiled raters. Loved most by The Prestige Hunters; disliked most by The Genre Devotees.
Where do you stand?
Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.
“Is this Stephen Frears's best work?”
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“Is Anjelica Huston the best thing in The Grifters?”
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“Is the book better?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- John Chardon TMDB · Nov 20149/10
My son is going to be all right. If not, I'll have you killed. The Grifters is directed by Stephen Frears and adapted to screenplay by Donald E. Westlake from the novel of the same name written by Jim Thompson. It stars Anjelica Huston, John Cusack and Annette Bening. Music is by Elmer Bernstein and cinematography by Oliver Stapleton. “The best reason I can think of is that you scare the hell out of me. I have seen women like you before, baby. You're double-tough and you are sharp as a razor, and you get what you want or else; but you don't make it work forever. Sooner or later the lightning hits, and I'm not gonna be around when it hits you” 1990 was a grand year for neo-noir, of the dozen + titles that came out that year, The Grifters sits atop of the pile. A superlative film noir that boasts class on the page and on both sides of the camera. Set in modern day Los Angeles, the story follows three cynical and sly con artists through a psychological fog of bluff, double bluff, pain, misery, manipulations and shattering developments. That the trio consists of a boyfriend, girlfriend and an estranged mother only darkens the seamy waters still further. Los Angeles positively bristles
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Cast
- Anjelica HustonLilly Dillon
- John CusackRoy Dillon
- Annette BeningMyra Langtry
- Jan MunroeGuy in bar
- Robert WeemsRacetrack Announcer
- Stephen TobolowskyJeweler
- Jimmy NoonanBartender
- Richard HoldenCop
- Henry JonesSims
- Michael LaskinIrv
Crew
- Stephen FrearsDirector
- Donald E. WestlakeScreenplay
- Jim ThompsonNovel
- Oliver StapletonDirector of Photography
- Elmer BernsteinOriginal Music Composer
- Mick AudsleyEditor
- Robert A. HarrisProducer
- Martin ScorseseProducer
- Jim PaintenProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
In a Lonely Place 195085% alikeBoth grave, classical in form.
The Talented Mr. Ripley 199985% alikeBoth classical in form, grave.
Dog Day Afternoon 197581% alikeBoth classical in form.
The Fly 198678% alikeBoth classical in form, bleak.
Klute 197177% alikeBoth grave, classical in form.
Mona Lisa 198677% alikeBoth classical in form, grave.
Shadow of a Doubt 194377% alikeBoth classical in form, grave, meticulous.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 197577% alikeBoth classical in form, meticulous.
Black Bird 202274% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form, grave, bleak.
Combat! 196274% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form, grave.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
