Margot Robbie‘s built up quite the unique filmography over the years. She gave her own unique take on Harley Quinn, especially where Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is concerned. She made Sharon Tate feel like a fleshed-out character in Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood. She even made a Barbie movie work! Many of Robbie’s fans will point to The Wolf of Wall Street as her breakout role; she brought a fiery energy and plenty of sensuality to the role as Naomi Lapaligia, stealing every scene she was in. But those fans missed her role in Focus, a crime caper where Robbie really lets her talents shine.
Focus stars Robbie as Jess Barrett, a fledgling con artist who runs into a more seasoned grifter, Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith). Under Nicky’s tutelage, Jess starts to become more and more skilled, but things grow complicated when the two start a romantic affair. Why is this complicated? Nicky has one rule: never get emotionally invested with your fellow thieves. “There’s no room for heart in this game. It’ll get you killed,” he says at one point. Despite this, Focus works as a romance/crime thriller due to the chemistry between Robbie and Smith, not to mention Robbie’s performance.
‘Focus’ Thrives on the Chemistry Between Margot Robbie and Will Smith
The allure of a con artist is that they’re able to hook their targets in multiple ways, whether through their looks or through their charisma. Focus is built on this, as Nicky and Jess often use every tactic in the book, from seduction to mental trickery, to win over their targets. But writer/directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa also make sure to spotlight how Nicky and Jess’ relationship evolves from a partnership to a relationship. A great moment comes when Nicky teaches Jess about the art of sleight of hand, pretending to dance with her while lifting her valuables. It’s a blend of humorous moments, including Jess’ look of surprise as Nicky keeps pulling things out of her pockets; informative, as these techniques get used throughout the film; and romantic, as the two are close to each other. Robbie is able to match Smith beat for beat and even draws the spotlight away from him in a few scenes—considering Smith is one of the most charismatic actors out there, it takes a lot to actually outshine him.
Related
The 10 Best Characters in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,’ Ranked
Some of the best acting you’ll ever see in your whole life.
There’s one scene in Focus that really proves Margot Robbie’s star power. In the back half of the film, Nicky is carrying out a con and runs into Jess, who’s with another mark. They reunite, and Jess somehow manages to talk Nicky into considering running away with her…before revealing that she was tricking him. This scene doesn’t just work on Nicky, but the audience as well: Robbie’s body language and words suggest that she’s really willing to be with this man before pulling the rug out from viewers. Out of all the twists that are packed into Focus‘s narrative, this one isn’t as impactful, but it works because of Robbie’s performance. It also keeps the audience on their toes—will Nicky and Jess actually reunite, or is the game of crime too alluring for them to quit?
Margot Robbie’s Career Took Off After ‘Focus’
Focus was a box office hit when it premiered in 2015, raking in triple its $50 million budget. It also led to an increased presence on the silver screen for Robbie, as she would headline blockbusters including Barbie and dramas including I, Tonya. But 2016 cemented Robbie as a star with David Ayer‘s Suicide Squad. While Suicide Squad arrived in theaters as a shadow of Ayer’s original vision, many still agreed that Robbie’s turn as Harley Quinn was a big draw, leading to her reprising the role in Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad. She would also reunite with Will Smith, who plays the skilled sharpshooter Deadshot, and even though their relationship wasn’t romantic, there are still the embers of chemistry that they shared in Focus. Fans of Margot Robbie should definitely fire up their Netflix accounts and check out Focus, as it was the stepping stone to her current success and is an entertaining watch from beginning to end.
