Focus does not bring anything new to the genre but the con artist film is now available for fans to bring home on 4K Ultra HD. Put it this way–Focus is not even remotely close to being in the same category as Ocean’s Eleven. But for what it’s worth, Smith is able to distance himself from 2013’s After Earth.

Please note that the 4K UHD disc is product is manufactured on demand in the BD-R format. It will play in nearly all leading Blu-ray players that have the latest firmware updates, but Microsoft Xbox One does not currently support BD-R playback.

Seasoned con artist Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) takes a rookie, Jess Barrett (Margot Robbie), under his wings. Jess had just failed badly when the two first met at a hotel bar. As Nicky takes Jess in, he teaches her all the tools of the trade, serving as something of a mentor. The biggest advice is to focus. Jess is a rookie but she otherwise has everything she needs to succeed in the business. It’s only with the proper training that Jess can take her skills and talent to the next level. You’d have thought Jess was a veteran at the game from how quickly she learns. The minute Jess gets too close to Nicky is when Nicky calls things off and they go in their own separate ways.

Cut to three years later, Nicky has a run-in with Jess while in Buenos Aires. They might rekindle their relationship but Jess throws Nicky off. He’s there to pull his own con but his focus is now off. His original plans get completely messed up now that Jess is in his head, distracting from his focus. It doesn’t matter where we are–New York, New Orleans, or Buenos Aires–twists and turns are inevitable. One of those twists is the sort of jaw-dropping type. In rewatching the film nearly a decade later, I had completely forgotten about one twist in particular. You never ever see it coming! Even now, I do not want to give it away because you never know who is reading a review without first watching the film.

From the outside looking in, you would not think that Nicky is a con artist. He has a million-dollar smile on his face but being a con artist runs in the family. His father and grandfather taught him all of the tricks. It could be a small job like picking pockets or a long con but you do not want to turn your back on Nicky. To turn your back on him would likely lead to losing something on your person. Anyway, the stakes increase throughout the film’s run time.

Focus has the right formula for a solid genre-blender of action, adventure, and romance but neither Will Smith or Margot Robbie are enough to save the film. It’s a shame because Ficarra and Requa’s previous outing, Crazy, Stupid, Love., was so brilliant.

Bonus Features

• Masters of Misdirection: The Players in a Con
• Will Smith: Gentleman Thief
• Margot Robbie: Stealing Hearts
• Deleted scenes
• Alternate opening

DIRECTORS/SCREENWRITERS: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
CAST: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro, Gerald McRaney, Adrian Martinez, Robert Taylor, BD Wong, Brennan Brown, Dominic Fumusa

Warner Bros. released Focus in theaters on February 27, 2015. Grade: 3/5

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