Writer-director John Patton Ford's feature debut, Emily the Criminal, is a criticism of capitalism and corporate America. What would you do with money if you had it? Emily (Aubrey Plaza) didn't want to be a criminal — she was created by those who stifle the working class. On the surface, the film is a thriller about a millennial who hits her breaking point and turns to crime to pay off her student debt. Many know that burden, and we end up working hard in university to get jobs that don't pay us enough. As a woman who fought the abuses of systems and people, Emily turns the tables in black market capitalism's game of risk.
Emily works for a catering business. She used to draw portraits, her real passion, but that didn't pay. She has a mark on her record, an aggravated assault charge from fighting back against an abusive ex. It follows her everywhere, making it hard for her to find work that pays enough for her to pay off her student loans. She pays large sums, but that only covers the interest. It's an infuriating scam with seemingly no solution — that is, until her coworker hooks her up to be a "dummy shopper," where she can make $200 for an hour of work. It's tempting, and she can't pass it up.
Equipped with pepper spray, she goes to her new gig and discovers that it's a credit card scam. She meets brothers Youcef (Theo Rossi) and Khalil (Jonathan Avigdori), who run the operation, and she's tasked with buying expensive merchandise, like TVs and cars, and bringing them back for quick cash. Sounds easy, but she's hesitant. She's not a criminal, despite what her record says. She doesn't need more marks against her, but that cash could change her life. She's playing a risky game in the criminal underworld, but it becomes a rush as the payout gets bigger and bigger after every gig. This new income gives her courage to draw again, and she shows great ambition despite the anxiety-inducing stakes. She's pushed into some frightening situations but refuses to back down, even as things get messy and her reckless ambition could lead to deadly consequences.
Emily the Criminal is briskly paced and establishes its high stakes very early on. Despite the narrative focusing on very serious business, it's immensely entertaining and at times humorous. The humour comes from Plaza's deadpan style and the exchanges she has with Rossi. "You can't make money another way?" Youcef asks. She asks him the same, with a coy grin. The relationship between their characters takes a very predictable turn, but the actors' scenes together provide levity from the chaos. It's interesting to see Emily integrate herself into this environment with ease so quickly. It also makes her scenes in her "normal" life seem humorous because no one knows what she does for a living. She's open about it, but her friends automatically assume she's joking.
Plaza brings to life a gutsy character, but one who manages to remain composed even under the direst situations. She emotes so much with her eyes and is as endearing as ever. Emily is vulnerable at first but later becomes stone-cold like corporate America. She's playing the system, and it's so satisfying to watch. John Patton Ford also critiques unpaid internships and the ways the elite open doors for more wealthy people to gain opportunities. But through thievery, Emily is turning the tables and taking from them instead.
While many would hope not to resort to the same means to an end as Emily does, it takes guts to remain steadfast and follow through until the end. The road is tough, but circumstances are only temporary.
(Low Spark)Emily works for a catering business. She used to draw portraits, her real passion, but that didn't pay. She has a mark on her record, an aggravated assault charge from fighting back against an abusive ex. It follows her everywhere, making it hard for her to find work that pays enough for her to pay off her student loans. She pays large sums, but that only covers the interest. It's an infuriating scam with seemingly no solution — that is, until her coworker hooks her up to be a "dummy shopper," where she can make $200 for an hour of work. It's tempting, and she can't pass it up.
Equipped with pepper spray, she goes to her new gig and discovers that it's a credit card scam. She meets brothers Youcef (Theo Rossi) and Khalil (Jonathan Avigdori), who run the operation, and she's tasked with buying expensive merchandise, like TVs and cars, and bringing them back for quick cash. Sounds easy, but she's hesitant. She's not a criminal, despite what her record says. She doesn't need more marks against her, but that cash could change her life. She's playing a risky game in the criminal underworld, but it becomes a rush as the payout gets bigger and bigger after every gig. This new income gives her courage to draw again, and she shows great ambition despite the anxiety-inducing stakes. She's pushed into some frightening situations but refuses to back down, even as things get messy and her reckless ambition could lead to deadly consequences.
Emily the Criminal is briskly paced and establishes its high stakes very early on. Despite the narrative focusing on very serious business, it's immensely entertaining and at times humorous. The humour comes from Plaza's deadpan style and the exchanges she has with Rossi. "You can't make money another way?" Youcef asks. She asks him the same, with a coy grin. The relationship between their characters takes a very predictable turn, but the actors' scenes together provide levity from the chaos. It's interesting to see Emily integrate herself into this environment with ease so quickly. It also makes her scenes in her "normal" life seem humorous because no one knows what she does for a living. She's open about it, but her friends automatically assume she's joking.
Plaza brings to life a gutsy character, but one who manages to remain composed even under the direst situations. She emotes so much with her eyes and is as endearing as ever. Emily is vulnerable at first but later becomes stone-cold like corporate America. She's playing the system, and it's so satisfying to watch. John Patton Ford also critiques unpaid internships and the ways the elite open doors for more wealthy people to gain opportunities. But through thievery, Emily is turning the tables and taking from them instead.
While many would hope not to resort to the same means to an end as Emily does, it takes guts to remain steadfast and follow through until the end. The road is tough, but circumstances are only temporary.
