Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Film myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.What feels like a long time ago in the US presidential election campaign, Donald Trump took a dig at George Clooney. Movies never really worked out for Democrat Clooney, Trump declared on social media. His advice? “Go back to television.” Apple seems to agree. Having paid Clooney to co-star with Brad Pitt in crime caper Wolfs, the company reportedly reneged on a planned full-scale cinema release. Instead, after a week in US movie theatres, the film is now only available to stream.The decision feels glaring because Wolfs would once have been physically unavoidable at the multiplex. In a high-concept star vehicle for two, Clooney and Pitt play rival “clean-up men”: experts in making criminal problems disappear, somehow double-booked at the same bloody scene in a luxe New York hotel.Until now, neither knew the other existed. Naturally, they hate each other, and only more so when the plot dooms them to a darkly farcical night together, bickering over professional practice as “Smooth Operator” plays in the BMW. For much of the running time, the joke is essentially just that while director Jon Watts lands the pair with one damn thing after another. Watts also oversaw Marvel’s wildly popular recent Spider-Man movies. Here, as if on holiday, he nods with evident glee to Martin Scorsese’s deathless nocturne After Hours. But it takes more than good taste in other people’s films to keep this kind of comic soufflé from collapsing. Watts does the job with skill. The rhythm is spry, before the groove switches up with an absurdist jolt. Supporting players flee across Chinatown in just their underwear. Incidentally, it is snowing.It is also true you will need a high tolerance for the slick personas of Clooney and Pitt. (“You’re the coolest guys I’ve ever seen,” co-star Austin Abrams is required to say.) Maybe that explains Apple’s cold feet. A little late now, you might think. The film is no classic, but nifty enough to deserve better. The streaming wars may be over. Cinema keeps getting shot at.★★★☆☆On Apple TV+ from September 27
