IR Film Review: PAIN HUSTLERS [Netflix]
It is always great to see a filmmaker stretch his wings beyond his comfort zone and see what new energy he can bring to certain material. Director David Yates and his lead actress Emily Blunt have taken an inherent American but global story and gave it an energy that shows different facets. Again, these types of films, existing in what would be before considered a mid range bracket, can tell a story that might work on a limited theatrical level and yet is a great character piece with verve, stakes and circumstance that can shine on streaming (though the ROI is the million dollar or more dollar question). "Pain Hustlers" tells a story of the rise and fall of Eliza, a woman at the end of her means but with a perspective, beauty, intelligence and the ability to sell if only given a chance.
Emily Blunt can embody a character but disappearing into an American accent is a great facet for her because, like Jordan Belfort in "Wolf Of Wall Street", albeit from a different perspective, Eliza sees the ease with which manipulation even on an awareness level is a slippery slope. Chris Evans co-stars as Pete, a pharma rep in a company that is going down that sees her potential because all else is lost. Yates does a great job of building up the energy, the slights of hand, the work but also the luck and thrill before the eventual downfall. Evans does something very selfless here in many ways (though this is clearly a Blunt vehicle): he gets out of the way. She holds the screen and she knows how to play this character in some inherent way.
Yates gets the details and some of the direct preciseness that makes sure that the narrative and the character development has to go hand in hand. This is what Harry Potter was all about. The difference here is that this is a close ended story and he tells it briskly in 2 hours without losing context. It does help having some good character actors around filling in the blanks between Catherine O'Hara, Jay Duplass and Amit Shah. Andy Garcia does well as the billionaire head of the pharma company but doesn't quite disappear. It is not his fault but the danger he used to have in his roles has softened with time. it would be nice to see him try a character more dangerous and not just paranoid (though it is done with a sense of intelligence.
Chloe Coleman as the daughter is also a nice balance to Blunt. She has been growing up on screen and is developing a nice edge in her performances. Evans pumps up his performance but keeps it more at a low simmer which only enhances Blunt's shine. Like "The Devil Wears Prada" from a different perspective, this allows her to shine while not worrying in certain ways about the IP that is ultimately being served (though she does well there as well). "Pain Hustlers" like "Wolf Of Wall Street" on a much smaller scale shows the seduction of the American Dream when there is nothing quite available to sustain it. B+
By Tim Wassberg
