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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.
John Chard
Nov 15, 2014 · via TMDB
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 with a smouldering atmosphere thanks to the work of Frears, Bernstein and Stapleton. Sexual tension is ripe, Westlake’s adaptation doing justice to Thompson’s novel, while the three leads – and Pat Hingle in super support – are on fire, bringing complex characters vividly to life as they trawl through the devilishly labyrinthine plot, adding biting humour and shallow savagery into the bargain. A top draw neo-noir that doesn’t cut corners or pull its punches, from the split screen opening salvo to the pitch black finale, The Grifters delivers high quality for neo-noir fans. 9/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Anjelica Huston
Lilly Dillon
John Cusack
Roy Dillon
Annette Bening
Myra Langtry
Jan Munroe
Guy in bar
Stephen Tobolowsky
Jeweler
Jimmy Noonan
Bartender
Richard Holden
Cop
Henry Jones
Sims
Michael Laskin
Irv
Eddie Jones
Mintz
Sandy Baron
Doctor
Lou Hancock
Nurse
Gailard Sartain
Joe
Ivette Soler
Maid
Pat Hingle
Bobo Justus
Paul Adelstein
Sailor - Young Paul
Jeremy Piven
Sailor - Freshman
Gregory Sporleder
Sailor - Spooney
Jeff Perry
Drunk
Jon Gries
Drunk's Friend
Micole Mercurio
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Charles Napier
Gloucester Hebbing
J.T. Walsh
Cole
Billy Ray Sharkey
FBI man
Frances Bay
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Xander Berkeley
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Juliet Landau
Young Lilly (uncredited)
Sy Richardson
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Martin Scorsese
Opening voice-over (uncredited)
Dennis Gassner
Production Design
Nancy Haigh
Set Decoration
Oliver Stapleton
Director of Photography
Kimberly Adams
Assistant Costume Designer
Mark Bridges
Assistant Costume Designer
Stephen Frears
Director
Juliet Taylor
Casting
Victoria Thomas
Casting
Martin Scorsese
Producer
Kathleen M. Courtney
Production Coordinator
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Jim Thompson
Novel
Donald E. Westlake
Screenplay
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The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
1978
Saddle Leather Law
1944
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
Leaderboard →Playing as a guest — sign in to save your score and rank on the leaderboard.
Movie Trivia
Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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