Will Smith opens in “Focus” on Friday. Rotten Tomatoes already gives it a 50, with Todd McCarthy, dean of reviewers, panning it. So does our Leah Sydney– see below. If “Focus” fails, it follows “After Earth” and Smith’s disastrous appearance in the huge mistake called “Winter’s Tale.” No kidding, this is bad news. “Concussion” is coming at Christmas time, which may be better. But Smith is following in Johnny Depp’s footsteps, it seems.

Here’s Leah’s review:
Will Smith mega star wattage is a huge part of why his new romantic con caper will probably do well in the opening weekend. But once the word spreads that ‘Focus,’ is mostly unimpressive and predictable– with some flashes of humor and stylish, hip coolness–that will probably figure into the big picture box office gross.

Will plays Nicky, a longtime con artist who offers to tutor the novice Jess (played by the impossibly sexy Margot Robbie) after they hook up at posh Manhattan restaurant. What ensues is their quest for the big con, figuring out their relationship, Nicky trying to come to terms with his relationship with his father and on and on.

For a caper con to work it has to have mega chemistry between its stars, and this pairing falters. Since they both are consistent insincere liars, with nary a break, it’s hard to root for either of them. Perennially likeable Will gives it his talented all, as does Robbie– who proves again post “Wolf of Wall Street”– she’s an actress to watch. She is game and committed.

Adrian Martinez provides welcome comic relief as Nicky’s right hand plus size man. The always-reliable B.D. Wong gives a fun stint as a billionaire Chinese gambler and the equally solid Gerald McRaney adds to the talented ensemble.

Ultimately, ‘Focus’ is a sloppy movie. You see the same plot twists coming a mile away; the element of surprise is shot. The production looks cheap, the international locales don’t feel nearly as luxurious or swanky that a romantic con film should, even the scenes with extras look cheap and staged. The second half of the film takes place in Buenos Aires, which livens the film up, a bit. Although the film has its moments, ‘Focus’ is ultimately unsatisfying. You kind of feel that you’ve been played without the payoff. Also, you can’t help but wonder if most of the film’s budget went to Will’s salary.

I just caught up with Tuesday’s take in the New York Times about the Oscars. The movies were small, and the audience was detached. Some film librarian in Michigan named Phillip Hallman thinks the Academy is out of touch with the public. Rubbish. None of these people suggested which movies should have been nominated instead of the almost perfect “Whiplash” or the ingenious “Boyhood.”

Maybe Philip Hallman, whom no one knows, would have preferred “Dumb and Dumber To” as a nominee. Clearly he or the writers of this unthink piece are mad that Christopher Nolan’s endless jumble, “Interstellar,” should have been in the mix. They also cite Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Returns” and “Inception” as examples of popular films that didn’t get Oscar nominations.

The Oscars are not a referendum. They are voted on by members of the motion picture Academy. Want the popular vote, Phil? You got it with the People’s Choice Awards. There, the crap of the year, the commercial stuff made with no artistry and an eye on the lowest common denominator, is celebrated.

The fact is, the eight nominated films from 2014 will last. The ninth film, “Unbroken,” from Angelina Jolie, will also last. “Interstellar” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” will also be seen again and again. Otherwise, I have no idea what these people are talking about. And neither do they.

The way movie releases work, we get mostly dreck in January and February, the stuff that couldn’t be released in the preceding year. Then March and April, light fare, comedies, quirky things. Come May, the summer season begins and it’s all action heroes and explosions. You may get a Woody Allen film in July if you’re lucky.

In August, some serious fare sneaks in, hoping to capitalize on adults’ weariness of “—Man” movies. Come Labor Day, the Oscar season begins, but doesn’t really kick in until October.

It used to be that someone would come running in with a Big Movie after Thanksgiving. But you can’t do that anymore. In the cases of “American Sniper” and “Selma,” they were too late. The film critics groups have to see the films before December 1st. The National Board of Review isn’t smart enough to process a thought in a day, and then vote. Ditto some others. So the late ambush is a no go. And that’s what we got this year.

We also got “Inherent Vice,” which was terrible, the Emperor’s New Clothes, and presented like it was going to mean something. It didn’t.

“Selma” was undermined by having no screeners, much discussed. “Unbroken” was allowed to turn into a big mystery, and then it wasn’t, it was just good. And that was a let down.

So we move on to new films and hope it comes in right. A better host– like Jimmy Kimmel– will help. And new producers will inject some life. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were like New York city mayors. They had a great first term, an okay second, and by the third they were worn out. It’s time for a new look. Craig and Neil can get a star on the Walk of Fame (if they don’t have one already), the equivalent of getting a New York bridge named for you.