A young short-con grifter suffers both injury and the displeasure of reuniting with his criminal mother, all the while dating an unpredictable young lady.
Nominated for 4 Oscars. 10 wins & 21 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
The Grifters is so good that one leaves the theater on a spellbound high.
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Donald Westlake's excellent screenplay does some justice to the starkness of Jim Thompson's novel; and Frears' direction never fails to grab the attention.
– Stephen Garrett,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
rotten:
Cusack underplays Roy, making him an unbelievable wiseguy, a colorless cipher too akin to the saps he loves to fleece.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
18 Oct 2008
rotten:
A mannerist thriller that doesn't begin to work despite the number of talented hands involved.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
6 Nov 2009
fresh:
Best to savor The Grifters for its handsome design -- the picture looks as clean as a Hockney landscape -- and its juicy performances.