Sharper (2023)
Directed by Benjamin Caron
No — Sharper is not woke, scoring 12 out of 100 on our wokeness meter.
The cinematic spectacle of Sharper presents a polished, if somewhat predictable, exercise in high-stakes deception.
Consciousness Markers
The cast is notably diverse, with Justice Smith and Briana Middleton in prominent roles alongside Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan, but the film never comments on or foregrounds this diversity.
The plot revolves around con artists fleecing a billionaire and his estate, but the film treats this as genre mechanics rather than a critique of wealth or capitalism.
Julianne Moore and Briana Middleton play capable, scheming con artists who drive the plot, but the film offers no feminist thesis or commentary on gender.
A twist-driven con thriller that aims to entertain rather than preach; there is essentially no didactic messaging.
No LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or themes appear anywhere in the film.
Race is never addressed or thematized; the Black characters exist within the story without any racial commentary.
No environmental or climate themes are present.
No body positivity themes or messaging.
No neurodivergent characters or themes.
The film is a contemporary fictional thriller with no historical subject matter to revise.
Why it received this score
The cinematic spectacle of Sharper presents a polished, if somewhat predictable, exercise in high-stakes deception. We find ourselves watching a meticulously constructed web of lies and complex financial maneuvers in New York City. Despite its surface appeal as a sleek caper, the film avoids engaging with the specific cultural debates that define modern sensibilities. The diverse talent on screen serves as effective casting, certainly, but the narrative never pauses to foreground or comment upon that representation. It functions as a backdrop rather than a thematic element of social awareness.
The plot offers a mild critique of extreme wealth, specifically through the lens of con artistry targeting a billionaire’s estate. However, this is a genre mechanic, a plot driver, not a formal socio-economic critique. The presence of capable female characters who drive the plot provides a flicker of progressive consideration, but it remains within the confines of a standard thriller framework. The film does not advance a specific feminist agenda or address gender dynamics with any thematic weight. It is a clever piece of escapism that maintains a certain neutrality regarding contemporary cultural imperatives.
Ultimately, Sharper delivers a satisfying, if conventional, viewing experience. It is a testament to the mechanics of a well-executed crime drama. It is a film that exists comfortably within its genre and its era, achieving entertainment without the heavy-handed social consciousness that many contemporary productions currently insist upon. It is a polished diversion, nothing more, and certainly nothing less.
Analysis generated by our Consciousness Algorithm
Part of
Synopsis
A small, wealthy family in New York City gets progressively torn apart by secrets, lies, and the theft that orchestrates all of it.
Questions about Sharper
Is Sharper woke?
No — Sharper is not woke, scoring 12 out of 100 on our wokeness meter. That earns it a verdict of Ultra Based.
Does Sharper have any woke elements?
1 of the 10 markers register at 30 or above, led by Representation Casting (35). On Representation Casting: The cast is notably diverse, with Justice Smith and Briana Middleton in prominent roles alongside Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan, but the film never comments on or foregrounds this diversity.
How does Sharper compare to other 2023 movies?
It ranks #135 of the 200 films from 2023 we've scored; their average is 24. The wokest is Origin (84).
How is the Woke Score calculated?
An AI-assisted process researches the film and its reception, scores it 0–100 on ten markers, then combines those into one 0–100 Woke Score. It measures a specific set of 2020s cultural themes, not film quality.