by Jacob Kinman, Contributing Writer
Apple, the computer company founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, has come to have an enormous impact on the world at large for more than 40 years, from the Macintosh computer, to the iPhone, to its latest product: yet another streaming service in our vast media landscape. Apple TV+ has put out so much great content since its inception, garnering awards and critical acclaim for hit series like Ted Lasso and Severance, and even a Best Picture win for the 2021 filmCODA.
Apple’s latest release, Sharper, is not quite of this ilk.
Directed by television director Benjamin Caron, and produced by A24, Sharper has a great cast, including Julianne Moore, John Lithgow, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, and Briana Middleton. But here’s the thing about this film: There are so many twists, even in the first 30 minutes, that I’m hesitant to give any of the plot away. The problem with that, for me at least, is that these story turns are fairly predictable for the most part. This is a classic example of a psychological thriller, and, true to form, no one is as they seem. The stories of all these characters are intertwined very intricately; as the story goes on, we begin to see events of the film from different perspectives as the lies and trickery unfold.
The best thing about Sharper is the cinematography by Charlotte Bruus Christensen. There are some interesting shot choices, and, on the whole, it has a sleek aesthetic about it that adds some flair. The script from Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka is written well enough, and the first few twists are surprising. All five lead actors also give great performances. You really can never go wrong with Moore or Lithgow in anything. Smith is also starting to become one of my favorite actors; in a short period of time, he’s managed to perform a variety of interesting roles. Stan brings the moodiness and sex appeal; I wasn’t familiar with Middleton, but she also turns in a solid performance.
I think my main problem with Sharper is that the film thinks it’s a lot more clever than it actually is. By the time we get to the fifth or sixth twist — there are even more after that — it seems as if the film is written just to be surprising, which doesn’t give a whole lot of depth to the characters we’re following. There are some really mean and deceitful things done, and you’re left wondering, why? How did this character become this way? Most of them are filthy rich, so is it all just motivated by evil? Greed? By the time we get to the whammy ending, with literally two or three story turns in the last 15 minutes, I was left fatigued and slightly exasperated. It feels rushed and a bit convoluted.
Sharper is worth watching just for the performances and style, but I wouldn’t expect anything monumental. There’s a reason this film was released in February. It is definitely watchable and entertaining at times, but ultimately left me wanting more. There are some sections you could cut and replace with a bit more character work or backstory.
If you enjoy a melodramatic crime thriller that sometimes manages to keep you on your toes, Sharper may just be on the cutting edge.
Score: 6/10
Sharper is currently streaming on Apple TV+
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