Before 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' JLo Had a Crime Drama Deserving of Awards

Based on their voting history, the Academy Awards draws a clear line between esteemed dramatic actors and movie stars, with the latter receiving all the attention for prestigious films and flashy acting showcases. With the snubbing of iconic box office draws and cultural figures like Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Redford, they seem to look down on their work that revolves around their exuberant charm and presence. Regarding actors of less prestigious work, notably comedies, recognition eludes many of our most talented performers, something Jennifer Lopez experienced with the rude snubbing of her revelatory performance in Hustlers.

The 2019 biographical crime drama should've been Lopez's time for serious credibility, similar to Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy's nominations for Lost in Translation and Dreamgirls, respectively. Unfortunately, Lopez could not cross the nomination threshold, despite her performance being the driving force behind Hustlers and a culmination of the singer-actor's infectious star power.

Jennifer Lopez Was Rudely Snubbed of an Oscar Nomination for 'Hustlers'

At 56 years old, J-Lo is as relevant as ever as a pop culture figure dominating the tabloids and as a film actor, who is making a new dramatic turn in the re-imagining of Kiss of the Spider Woman. While she's still reliable as a romantic-comedy lead in movies such as Marry Me and Shotgun Wedding, Lopez's late-period filmography peaked with Hustlers, the film by Lorene Scafaria, which she also produced.

Her character, Ramona, is in a supporting position within a robust cast that includes Constance Wu, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lizzo, and Cardi B. Still, she looms large in this film, based on a New York Magazinearticle about a crew of strip-club entertainers who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients amid the 2008 financial crisis and recession. A credit to Lopez's enduring cultural influence, Hustlers was a surprise hit in 2019, grossing $157 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.

After earning mass critical acclaim and raking in precursor nominations and wins, Jennifer Lopez appeared to be a lock for an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2019/2020 ceremony. While the Academy has undergone a drastic makeover in recent years, her snubbing was a reflection of old habits, refusing to honor an actor more associated with popcorn entertainment and celebrity culture. The snubbing is especially damming considering that Ramona's archetype, the seasoned, influential leader of a criminal enterprise or menacing mentor, often dominates in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Channeling the exposé crime stories of Martin Scorsese's filmography, Hustlers sees Dorothy/Destiny (Wu), a naive and innocent dancer taken under the wing of Ramona after she's impressed by her moves. Under her watch, Destiny becomes a player in Romano's scheme of drugging clients, notably wealthy men with Wall Street ties, and robbing them blind of their credit cards. The casting of Lopez is essential to the narrative framing of Hustlers, as this larger-than-life, A-list mega-talent easily leads this cohort of relative unknowns into the depths of a dangerous criminal scheme. The other dancers simultaneously fear her prodigious nature and yearn to ascend to her status, a character conflict prevalent in many crime dramas of this ilk.

Jennifer Lopez Brings the Glamor and Pathos of the Criminal Underworld in 'Hustlers'

Lopez is nothing short of sheer dynamite in Hustlers, utilizing the full range of her stardom and overlooked acting prowess, evoking her finest work in Selena and Out of Sight. Like any strong anti-hero protagonist in a crime drama, Ramona glamorizes her seedy underworld, tricking the viewer into believing she's acting for a noble cause. Any time Lopez appears on the screen, whether as a dancer or a feisty con artist, she commands the scene.

Despite her innate gravitas, Lopez imbues Ramona with the proper level of nuance and sympathy, shading her profitable but illicit trade with unchecked sadness. She also underlines the euphoria and dread of operating above the law and societal norms, with the latter being an even greater hurdle to jump due to our pre-conceived notions of women as authority figures. After all, as powerful as these women present themselves, they're no match for the brokers who led to the demise of the nation's economy during this time.

Similar to many immersive performances by celebrities giving untapped dramatic turns, recently seen with Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine, Lopez sheds her public baggage and seismic persona when needed, particularly when she needs to provide verisimilitude to the strip-club scene. The pop star never exploits the luridness of this milieu, and the film as a whole belongs to the same class as Anora when it comes to humanizing the world of sex work.

While Lorene Scafaria's glossy visual language and dizzying use of handheld camera work is an exercise in style, Hustlers doesn't skimp on the substance department. Echoing the financial unrest of The Big Short, the film is a sobering portrait of how the working class must use their bodies to earn a living, only to have their dignity challenged by the system. Tying all the film's stylistic and thematic aspects together is Jennifer Lopez in what should've been her first Oscar nomination as an entertainer with world-class bravado that hardly means a thing when money stops rolling in.

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026.