• Latest
Downton Abbey

Hustlers

May 12, 2020
East Montpelier Student Lands Opportunity at Tech Company

East Montpelier Student Lands Opportunity at Tech Company

June 28, 2022

U.S. Supreme Court Reversal of Roe vs. Wade is a Devastating Blow to Reproductive Rights

June 28, 2022
Just Some Thoughts

I Hate Painting!

June 28, 2022
African Queen (1951)

The Conversation (1974)

June 28, 2022

Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) Offers Special Memorable Times Online and Ageless Grace/Memory Café Reunion in July 

June 28, 2022

Upper Valley Everyone Eats Returns to Gifford in June

June 21, 2022

Vermont’s COVID-19 State-Run Testing Sites to Close June 25

June 21, 2022
Lenny’s Raises $1,250 in May in support of American Stroke Awareness Month

Lenny’s Raises $1,250 in May in support of American Stroke Awareness Month

June 21, 2022
African Queen (1951)

Pistol

June 21, 2022
“Mr. B” Retiring After 30 Years at Nelson Hardware If He Can’t Fix It, It Can’t Be Fixed

“Mr. B” Retiring After 30 Years at Nelson Hardware If He Can’t Fix It, It Can’t Be Fixed

June 21, 2022

Secretary of State Candidates Forum

June 14, 2022

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Announces Sustainability Plan to Meet the Challenges of the Moment

June 14, 2022
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Saturday, July 2, 2022
The World Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Hustlers

3 Stars

vt-world by vt-world
May 12, 2020
in Max's View
0
Downton Abbey

America has an interesting relationship with its 4000 Gentleman’s Clubs.

Between #MeToo and the religious right, it’s a wonder that states haven’t begun banning strip clubs. I guess it is a good thing that liberals and conservatives won’t work together even when they’re on the same side.

One thing strip clubs have going for them is that most people don’t know what happens in there. The vast majority of women won’t work there and a solid majority of men don’t feel comfortable going there unless it’s part of somebody’s bachelor party.

Men who go to strip clubs face virtually no social stigma. I am not worried that you are going to boycott my column in shock and rage now that you know that I’ve been to a few strip clubs.

Women who work there, however, are judged by society. Even a wise man like Chris Rock determined that the primary job of a father is to keep his daughter “off the pole.” Do people really think raising a stripper is the worst failure a parent can make? How about raising a daughter who is too lazy to work?

The women in “Hustlers” are definitely not lazy.

The story begins about 15 years ago. Dorothy (Constance Wu) is working at Scores in Manhattan and doing okay. When she teams up with a savvy veteran stripper named Romona (Jennifer Lopez), Dorothy starts raking in cash.

The 2008 financial crisis puts a halt to the easy money. In response, Dorothy and Romona develop a new scheme: drugging rich guys and maxing out their credit cards while they are in a stupor. It is even more profitable but plainly illegal.

As a film, “Hustlers” is pretty good. It’s a lady “Goodfellas” with less characterization.

As an exploration of life as a stripper, “Hustlers” is surprisingly honest and insightful.

On a bad day, writer/director Lorene Scafaria shows us, a stripper gets economically exploited by club management and physically exploited by boorish patrons.

On a good day, however, a stripper makes lawyer-money just for spending quality time with likable gentlemen.

If a woman has a weakness for smoking or drinking, the strip club will be a brutally unhealthy place to work.

“Hustlers” shows us the uniquely stripper experience of paying an entire shopping trip with one dollar bills. At the register, you can either feel ashamed or you can hold your head up high because only an unchristian jerk would judge another person for the way she makes her living.

With all that cash coming in, there is a tendency for a stripper to become addicted to drugs or shopping. “Hustlers” argues that shopping might be the greater problem. Because when you are addicted to consumerism, the entire world is your drug dealer.

Scafaria even shows us the frustrations of employment after you retire from stripping. Romona takes a job as a salesclerk and discovers that she has to work nearly as hard for a fraction of the money in a desperately boring office. Naturally, she quits and returns to the club.

Scafaria is less focused in her analysis of the ’08 financial crisis. It is not clear whether she thinks the Wall Street guys are monsters who deserved to be drugged and robbed or human victims who are deserving of our empathy.

As a drama, “Hustlers” is merely above average. As an honest and educational analysis of strip clubs, “Hustlers” is a rare gem and well-worth seeing.

Previous Post

VPR to Provide Educational Programming Through End of School Year with ‘But Why’

Next Post

May 26th Plainfield Community Supper Continues in Adapted Form with Virus-Free Pickup

Next Post
May 26th Plainfield Community Supper Continues in Adapted Form with Virus-Free Pickup

May 26th Plainfield Community Supper Continues in Adapted Form with Virus-Free Pickup

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Summer Guide
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In