Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Is a Welcome Center a good idea? Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Police looking for possible additional victims in Ashland rape cases Bee college takes to the air Police Reports Education Bee college takes to the air Grizzlies shine at Eugene speech tourney Ashland High School named among best in the state High school Student of the Month: Jackson Richmond Senior party fundraising starts Environment The birdman of Bellview Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Locally grown businesses bid for micro-investor attention Ride & Drive: 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Seed donation helps grow SOU program Local home brewing scene continues to ferment Politics and elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally State News Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Rita Launa Stitt Rev. James Gillmore Leovy Death Notices Mary Ann (Schuler) Hill Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Blazers overcome Westbrook's triple-double, rally past Thunder Roles reversed for SOU-OIT matchup Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Raiders survive High school Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Grizz boys fend off Eagles, earn second straight win Malcolm's big night powers Ashland past N. Eugene Grizzlies suffer another tough loss; SOU softball team sweeps BC Southern Oregon University Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Roles reversed for SOU-OIT matchup Raiders survive Raiders roll into CCC semis A man among boys Voices Latest Stories Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? Granlund cartoon: Leonard Nimoy dies Our View: A growing concern Jeffrey Gillespie: Generation Y and the baby boomers Our View: A change of scenery Editorial Our View: A growing concern Our View: A change of scenery Our View: Pot tax fairness Our View: Cellular dissonance Our View: Keep pot programs separate Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 25 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 20: Letters at length Feb. 18: Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Columns Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? Jeffrey Gillespie: Generation Y and the baby boomers Changes in latitude Michelle Teheux: Will we keep heading down the wrong path? Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Writers, submit HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Mr. Turner' paints an intense portrait Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Ticket Availability SOU's 'The Glass Menagerie' is memory — and memorable Ticket Availability Joyous re-launch of 'Dames at Sea' Music Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Lazarus Effect’ should have been buried Movie review: Don’t ‘Focus’ on the problems and you’ll enjoy this Neill Blomkamp discusses his new film, ‘Chappie’ Quick Flicks: ‘Jupiter Ascending,’ ‘50 Shades of Grey’ Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Mourning a teacher, treasuring the threads he wove Community Blog: You Are IT Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Cheeseburger pie is the perfect winter comfort food Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? ... Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series ... Police looking for possible additional victims in Ashland rape cases ... Herb Rothschild: What to do about ISIS? ... Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series ... Police looking for possible additional victims in Ashland rape cases ... Movie review: Don't 'Focus' on the problems and you'll enjoy this By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Feb. 27, 2015 @ 2:00 am By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Feb. 27, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The best way to approach this film is to immediately dispense with its problems. The first half is stronger and more entertaining than what comes after it. Due to the surprising, and surprising amount of, twists it takes, a second viewing won’t hold up, because you’ll know all of those twists. When it’s over, you’ll realize how much of it doesn’t make any sense, that some of the twists might have looked good on the page, yet really have no business being in the story. But, hold on. I kind of liked this movie. It features all sorts of different types of eye candy, from its easy-to-look-at stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie (the Aussie actress who stole most scenes away from Leo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and will soon star opposite Alexander Skarsgard as Jane in “Tarzan”), to its dazzling settings (New Orleans and Buenos Aires) and flashy, on-the-move cinematography. It’s a movie about a team of con artists and the woman who wants to join their ranks as an “intern.” An intriguing start has ace con man Nicky (Will Smith) purposely getting himself set up and almost ripped off by the very green Jess (Margot Robbie). He puts himself in that position as a lark, to amuse himself, or maybe because he thinks he sees someone with promise, someone he can bring into his operation. He does eventually bring her in, acting as her teacher and mentor, but being careful to explain that this is a volume business, involving misdirection, sleight of hand, the picking of wallets, the taking of jewelry, etc. “You get their focus,” he says of his unwary marks, “and you can take whatever you want.” It’s not, he makes it clear, about “the big con,” the one job that will enable you to retire. That, he says, is a fantasy. Jess becomes an apt pupil, learning and displaying her prowess quickly and effectively. But teacher and student also become lovers. Uh-oh, that’s never a good thing. Though it sure can be for anyone watching this. Both actors play the hot scenes quite well, and there’s a real sexual spark between them up there on the screen. But there’s something you should know before sitting down to watch this. You, the viewer, are going to be fooled as much as the people these sharks are going after. That’s part of the fun of the story. Sure, we’re told in advance what’s going to happen to certain suckers, then we see it happen. But then it’s all switched around, and we see something happen, and are then told how it was done ... in detail. You’ve got to wonder, though, what we’re not being told, or what’s being revealed that isn’t quite true. For instance, does Nicky really have a gambling problem, as is suggested? That is certainly a subject of interest. You will eventually learn some new terms: the Toledo Panic Button or the Little Blind Mouse, and will understand what they mean in the world of cons. That, too, is entertaining. But when the story jumps ahead three years, even though that part is initially intriguing, the script and the film start to lose steam, mainly because it all becomes over-plotted. You still won’t have any idea about where it’s going, but the excitement level noticeably dips. Nonetheless, it all remains fun, partially because of a terrific soundtrack, which includes “White Bird” by It’s a Beautiful Day, and the oh-so-gritty version of “Baby, Please Don’t Go” by Van Morrison’s early group Them. For a slightly better time, it would behoove you to check out the two earlier writing-directing efforts by “Focus’ ” team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa: the popular and clever “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” and the sorely overlooked “I Love You Phillip Morris.” Ed Symkus covers movies for More Content Now. FOCUS Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa With Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Gerald McRaney, Adrian Martinez, Rodrigo Santoro Rated R By Ed Symkus More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted Feb. 27, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501