Sharper (2023), directed by Benjamin Caron, is a stylish and twisty psychological thriller that delves into the world of wealth, deception, and manipulation. The film follows a series of interconnected characters, each of whom is trying to outsmart the other in a high-stakes game of lies and betrayal. The story is built around the lives of individuals who are all striving for power and money, but who ultimately find themselves ensnared in a web of secrets that threaten to unravel their carefully constructed facades.

The plot is set in New York City and revolves around Max (Julianne Moore), a wealthy woman who has a complex relationship with her son Tom (Justice Smith), a young man who is struggling to navigate his way through life. Max, having come from a difficult past, is determined to ensure that her son doesn’t repeat her mistakes. She introduces Tom to the world of high society, where he quickly becomes enamored with the luxuries it offers. But as Tom becomes more involved with Max’s social circle, he discovers that the line between what is real and what is fake is not as clear as he thought.

The film’s structure is non-linear, unfolding in a series of interwoven storylines. The narrative weaves between the perspectives of different characters, revealing hidden motivations and secrets at every turn. As the story progresses, each character’s true nature is revealed, and the audience is constantly left guessing who can be trusted and who is playing their own game. The film’s twists and turns keep the audience on edge, with each new revelation adding to the tension and intrigue.

At the heart of Sharper is a study of ambition and desire, with characters who are driven by their own need for status and success. Tom, in particular, is portrayed as someone who is hungry for more, eager to climb the social ladder but unaware of the dangerous game he’s about to enter. Julianne Moore’s performance as Max is captivating—her character is both a mentor and a manipulator, a woman who has fought tooth and nail to reach the top and is willing to do whatever it takes to stay there. The complex, morally ambiguous nature of Max’s character is one of the film’s strongest elements, as it keeps the audience unsure of her true intentions.

The performances of the cast are another standout feature. Justice Smith, known for his role in Jurᴀssic World: Fallen Kingdom, plays Tom with a mix of vulnerability and ambition, capturing the complexity of a young man who is drawn into a world he doesn’t fully understand. Meanwhile, Sebastian Stan (known for his portrayal of Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) plays a suave and enigmatic figure who has his own secrets and agenda. The chemistry between the characters adds to the suspense, as alliances shift and motivations are revealed.

The film also takes a deep dive into the world of wealth and power, examining how those who are born into privilege use their position to manipulate and control others. It raises questions about morality and ethics, especially when it comes to the choices people make to get ahead. The manipulation in Sharper is not just about money—it’s about control, influence, and using others as pawns in a high-stakes game. The characters’ interactions are often marked by a sense of deception, as each one tries to outmaneuver the others.

One of the key themes of Sharper is the cost of ambition. The characters in the film are all driven by a desire to get ahead, but their pursuit of wealth and power comes with consequences. The moral ambiguity of the characters adds complexity to the story, as the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. The twists in the narrative challenge the audience to reconsider their perceptions of the characters, revealing the extent to which they are willing to deceive others—and themselves—in order to achieve their goals.

The film’s visual style complements its story, with sleek, modern cinematography that captures the world of high society and wealth. The New York City setting, with its glitzy apartment buildings, exclusive parties, and upscale restaurants, creates a backdrop that feels both alluring and cold, a reflection of the characters’ pursuit of success at any cost. The editing, which shifts between different timelines and perspectives, keeps the pace quick and the tension high, with each new piece of information adding to the mystery.

The conclusion of Sharper is both satisfying and unsettling, with a final twist that leaves the audience reflecting on the choices the characters made and the consequences of their actions. The film’s ending underscores the idea that, no matter how clever one is, the truth has a way of catching up with you. The ultimate revelation about the characters’ true intentions is a moment of reckoning that forces them to confront the lies they’ve been living.

In the end, Sharper is an intelligent and тιԍнтly woven thriller that explores themes of ambition, deception, and the pursuit of power. The performances, particularly from Julianne Moore and Justice Smith, are compelling, and the film’s intricate plot keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. The story’s twists and turns, combined with the film’s slick visual style, make Sharper a captivating watch, one that keeps viewers on their toes until the very end.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

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November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Read another story from us: The Dazzling ‘Hope Diamond’ has Brought Misery to all of its Illustrious Owners Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.