Emily the Criminal

Gripping , poignant , acting as good as it gets and a story that keeps you wanting to see more. I keep this review brief because if you don't see this move you will be the one missing out. Best thing I have watched at home or in the movie theater for some time.

Aubrey Plaza and Theo Rossi are Terrific Together in this drama and thriller rolled into one. Plaza shows great acting acumen as a "down on her luck" artist who becomes swept up in a crime spree to earn extra income. She is sweet, vulnerable, and relatable in this roll. She plays it really well. Rossi is terrific as her crime mentor. He plays a savvy non-violent criminal with a softer side. The film reminds me of another great film, Uncut Gems, in all the right ways. The acting is sharp. The Direction is first class. The Cinematography is very good. The movie is small in some senses. But it evokes many emotions- from anxiety to sadness, and more. This so worth watching for the performances alone.

Decent movies are becoming rarer nowadays. They're produced like junk food. On an industrial scale and with very little intrinsic value, soul or art. This little gem is definitely not one of those and I'd comfortably place in the fantastic category. Aubrey is outstanding! She's still the same actor you'll recognise instantly but also manages to pull off something completely fresh and unexpected. The story is a cracker. Excellently shot. Pacing is on point. Cast is spot on.

One of my favourite films this year so far, and after being disappointed so many times that's a very pleasant surprise!

Encore!!

This is a very engaging movie. Plaza is good, and Rossi, as her mentor in crime, is even better. They have a good chemistry together, which makes all the difference.

Her initial state --- student debt, no good job available, shared housing, etc. -- makes her desperation for something else understandable. Her step-by-step descent into crime feels credible, as do the details of the criminal schemes themselves.

Well worth watching.

A debt-ridden woman with an unkind past forced, Emily was cornered into partaking of a shady 'dummy shopper' scam. Things got bad to worse from there, resulting in a movie that was equally entertaining and gripping.

John Patton Ford did an excellent job writing and directing this project. Nathan Halpern's musical scoring was noteworthy though minimal. Jeff Bierman's cinematography was engaging and deep. Detail-driven work all round by the editing, hair-makeup, art direction, production design, costume, and stunt departments.

I personally believe that Aubrey Plaza's Emily is one of her career-highlight roles. She gave a riveting performance as a misunderstood and pressured woman trying to find peace of mind through freedom from debt.

Yousef, played by Theo Rossi, was great. Liz, played by Megalyn Echikunwoke, was quite good. Javier, played by Bernardo Badillo, was notable. Khalil, played by Jonathan Avigdori, was good. Vaz, played by Jack Topalian, was quite good. Armen, played by Roman Mitichyan, was memorable.

All other cast and crew did notable work in "Emily The Criminal" now streaming via Amazon Prime VOD.

This movie, and Aubrey Plaza's role in it, made me reaffirm the fact that our societal systems are designed to drive some people over the edge for no fault of their own. The script left no loose ends. Every frame, even the simple ones, felt like they contained hints of something dark at play.

"Emily The Criminal" was one of the best movies I've seen in 2022. It captured desperation and humanity in understandable and convincing ways. The movie also conveyed a guarantee that any one of us would've made the same decisions as Emily if the circumstances were right.

Realistic portrayals of the job market and its exploitation - unpaid internships, to name one - were also focused upon. The way it all led to Emily choosing crime to pay her bills and survive ended up feeling credible and essential. The script put paid to the adage, "criminals are not born, they're made."