A sharper plot synopsis
Sharper tells the story of two con artists Madeline and Max trying to pull a big trick on a billionaire. His name is Richard Hobbs. Madeline presents herself as a single mother and Max as her son, when in reality they are partners and lovers.
They work with another partner, Tipsy, but it does not have a significant stake. Madeline creates the illusion that she is in love with Richard and that Max’s habit of tricking people, though clever, is a concern for her. They trick Hobbs into paying Max $250,000 and then allegedly hire him to do these cons on other people. But after receiving this money, the couple disappears.
Madeline decides to play a bigger trick on Max, Richard, and the others. After Richard dies of an illness, it succeeds and Madeline becomes a billionaire. However, all of this ultimately proves a stubborn obstacle for Madeline as something else simmers in the minds of the beguiled. His entire existence is threatened and may even be exposed in front of everyone.
We take a deep dive into AppleTV’s latest thriller, answering key questions about the plot and its themes.
“I’m a professional,” Madeline says when she finally sits on the plane. That’s why he decided to take Max out of the way after he cheated Richard out of a quarter of a million. It doesn’t matter to the billionaire, but the feeling of heartbreak and broken trust hit him hard. Madeline didn’t betray Max because she focused on the police chasing her.
But given their relationship and connection, it was definitely along similar lines. Madeline decided to pack her things from Richard’s house first, and said she had a sick aunt in Jersey.
In this feeling, Madeline saw an opportunity to live a luxurious and comfortable life and not continue to do these negative things throughout her life. This choice sets Madeline apart from Max, who enjoys work and sees it as art, from a thorough professional who only does it for the money. Madeline chose to rat out Max and instead live her married life in peace with Richard. He had found the golden nest he didn’t want to give up.
How does Sandy cheat on Madeline?
After Madeline cut off all contact with Max, she didn’t know what happened to Sandy and her. He found his newfound wealth contagious and could only focus on living a life of luxury. Sandy found out about this loophole in Madeline’s plot from Tipsy, so she hatched a plan.
Little did Madeline know that Sandy hadn’t relapsed into heroin addiction and was going straight to waiting tables like she did before Max picked her up at Christmas. Sandy played a bluff to psychologically torture Madeline into thinking too much and reconnected with Max to complete her secret escape plan.
Perhaps aided by wealth and Max’s casual attitude, Sandy was able to seduce Madeleine. The first one was all a big ploy to convince Madeline that her fortune would be at risk if she didn’t pursue the truth and bring him to Tom. The grieving son also played his part, using Tipsy’s relationship with Goldie to take advantage of Madeline’s ignorance of the Hobbes family.
Why did Sandy decide to help Tom and how does he find out about the big scam?
After Max disappeared into thin air, Sandy went back to waiting tables. He took the money with him, although he did not plan to do so at first. One day, he looked at the paper and saw the news about Richard’s death.
In that article, she saw a picture of Tom and the part of her that was in love with him woke up. Tom was a lonely, depressed man. He had to work hard to get out of the hole he was in when his book launch failed. Tom wanted to be a writer, but he had lost his zeal and enthusiasm. Somewhere, he saw a part of him crying out for help and being healed as he had once been. His desperation was different, but still human.
When Sandy saw the article, she put two and two together and went back to Tom to help her. His love was genuine, and he had broken the eternal prohibition: never be on the mark. Because of this, he is forced to help Tom and hatch a plan with Tipsy to get him rightfully back.
Who comes out on top at the end of the big envelope?
Tom and Sandy came out on top at the end of the big scam. Their tricks against Madeline were so typical and well planned that even Max couldn’t help but smile and admire. Sharper’s third act begins when Tom receives a call that Goldie and his men have captured Sandra. He was found in a motel and woefully addicted to heroin. Her withdrawal symptoms were quite severe and Sandra’s movement was so incredibly good that Madeline didn’t doubt her for a minute. When Tom asked Madeline to let Sandra stay at home, he was afraid that Sandra would reveal the truth about Madeline when she regained full health.
He decided to go and check what Sandra really wanted. But Sandra did not ask for money for her. Madeline didn’t have any contact with Max because he ran away and hid, which was a difficult task for her. He didn’t even know where she was. After giving him many sleepless nights, Max finally answered Madeleine’s text and a date was set. Madeline took Sandra with her to see Max on the runway. He confronted Max and punched him in the chest.
But after a while, Tom and Goldie came with the others to catch Madeleine. It wasn’t Sandra who told them about her, but Goldie, who claimed she suspected Madeline. Tom takes the gun and points it at Sandra. He admonishes her for betraying her, but ultimately turns the gun on Madeline for providing all of this. He manages to grab it and then Tom is shot.
Goldie pronounces him dead and her men call the police. That’s when something snaps inside Madeline and she’s willing to give everything back to escape prison.
She calls David, the attorney in charge of managing Richard’s estate, and asks him to transfer everything to the Foundation. After doing so, Goldie gives her, Sandra, and Max tickets to Oklahoma. They are sitting on the plane when Madeline reveals that she is the Trustee of the Foundation and will still have control of the money now that Tom is dead. Sandra is annoyed by Madeline’s casual behavior and lack of concern for Tom’s death. He pretends to go to the bathroom, but when he doesn’t return, Madeline finds out he’s been tricked.
We flash back to where we see Sandra go to Tom after reading the news article. They go to Tipsy at the club they all hang out at, and he enlists Goldy and the others to come up with this perfect plan. We see every action they take in the final act, including Sandra trying to wrestle the gun from Tom and him firing.
Tom is indeed alive and has reclaimed everything that is rightfully his. They pay Tipsy and the others with a big check. Sandra asks Tom to go to the Japanese restaurant where they first met, and he closes up shop to go with her, showing that he has forgiven her and that they have a future together.