Image via A24
With directing stints on Sherlock, The Crown, and Andor under his belt, plus an Emmy win, director Benjamin Caron brings pedigree to this Apple original from the outset. Dissected into four interlinking stories which meld into one over the running time, Sharper is equal parts character piece and con artist action thriller.
Written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka, it features Julianne Moore (Dear Evan Hansen), Sebastian Stan (Fresh), and John Lithgow (The Old Man), in a setup which is reminiscent of The Grifters – a 90s thriller starring Anjelica Houston, John Cusack, and Melanie Griffiths. Where it elevates itself in comparison to the Stephen Frears staple is through the drip fed narrative and cool contemporary stylings.