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The Grifters (1990)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8/10
Reviews Counted: 39
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

audience

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 9,789

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Movie Info

Director Stephen Frears' tense adaptation of Jim Thompson's novel The Grifters was one of a number of revival film noirs in the first half of the '90s. Updating the setting to contemporary Los Angeles, the film follows a trio of con artists who are intent on out-foxing each other. Roy Dillon (John Cusack) is a simple, two-bit con, whose life is thrown into turmoil when his estranged mother Lilly (Anjelica Huston) returns home in an attempt to evade the law. Lilly doesn't warm to Roy's girlfriend

R, 1 hr. 54 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed By: Stephen Frears

In Theaters: Sep 14, 1990 Wide

On DVD: Jun 30, 1998

HBO Video

The Grifters Trailer & Photos

Cast

John Cusack
Roy Dillon
Anjelica Huston
Lilly Dillon
Annette Bening
Myra Langtry
Pat Hingle
Bobo Justus
J.T. Walsh
Cole
Charles Napier
Rebbing
Sandy Baron
Doctor
Frances Bay
Arizona Motel Clerk
Xander Berkeley
Lt. Pierson
Teresa Gilmore Capps
Receptionist 1
Lou Hancock
Nurse
Eddie Jones
Mintz
Henry Jones
Simms
Juliet Landau
Young Lilly
Michael Laskin
Irv
Micole Mercurio
Waitress
Jeff Perry
Drunk
Jeremy Piven
Sailor - Freshman
Gailard Sartain
Joe
Ray Sharkey
FBI Man
Ivette Soler
Maid
Gregory Sporleder
Sailor - Spooney
Stephen Tobolowsky
Jeweler
Noelle Harling
Nurse Flynn
Richard Holden
Cop
Jan Munroe
Guy at Bar
Juliet Taylor
Victoria Thomas
Jon Gries
Drunk's Friend

Critic Reviews for The Grifters

All Critics (39) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (4) | DVD (11)

Best to savor The Grifters for its handsome design -- the picture looks as clean as a Hockney landscape -- and its juicy performances.

November 6, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

A mannerist thriller that doesn't begin to work despite the number of talented hands involved.

November 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Cusack underplays Roy, making him an unbelievable wiseguy, a colorless cipher too akin to the saps he loves to fleece.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

The Grifters is so good that one leaves the theater on a spellbound high.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

It seduces you into believing it's merely a cheeky trifle, and then, when you least expect it, lowers the boom.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

This is one human board game that's absorbing to watch.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

[VIDEO] Although the movie recalls films by the Coen Brothers or the Dahl Brothers, "The Grifters" retains its source material's voice in a thoroughly original way. Here's a neo-noir you can never see too many times.

September 13, 2011 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com

| Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A darkly cynical and uncompromising gem.

November 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Clever writing and fine cast make this tale of thieves among us fun to watch.

March 22, 2008 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

British helmer Frears makes auspicious American debut with this light, speedy, perfectly executed noir, based on Jim Thompson's novel, boasting three terrific performances; one of the best films of the year

July 22, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Stephen Garrett

Time Out

[A] quirky, absorbing adaptation of Jim Thompson's pulp novel.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Intriguing neo-noir.

October 7, 2005 Comment

Dan Lybarger

Nitrate Online

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Grifters

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A forgettable outing from one of my favourite directors, unfortunately. Annette Bening is a sparkplug, Angelica Huston is electric, and the final act is a knockout. Unfortunately, the film bounces around for the first hour or more, in a way that, instead of building intrigue, is jarring and kind of confusing. Every

January 12, 2008

Daniel Perry

Super Reviewer

This is my semi-strange parallel: I see this film as a depraved, con man version of My Cousin Vinny. It's regional, it's tricky, and it's female character driven, even though the protagonist in each is ostensibly the male. But I think it's mostly because Annette Bening's character reminds me a lot of Marisa Tomei's, body hugging dress and all.

April 28, 2011

Jennifer Xu

Super Reviewer

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