I Care a Lot

Streaming: Netflix
Warnings:
Violence
Explicit Language
Rating: R

  I Care a Lot is a comedy thriller that follows a court appointed guardian who targets elderly people for their assets, but she messes with the wrong old lady and gets mixed up with a dangerous criminal. Written, directed and produced by J Blakeson, the film takes the audience on a wild journey that is unexpected and exciting. The film stars Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González and Dianne West. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was recently released to Netflix and Prime Video. The film overall received positive reviews and Pike received a Golden Globe for Best Actress. The acting, the screenplay and the awesome cinematography makes this film interesting and different from most thrillers that are out today. One aspect of the screenplay in particular that is intriguing is that there is no male love interest for the lead, which is commonly found in thrillers or action films, this is a refreshing approach to this genre. There are many other elements that makes this film great, but that part specifically makes this film different.

The screenplay is incredibly unique, there are not often films about the elderly that are action oriented, nor do they involve terrifying criminals played by the talented Peter Dinklage. I Care a Lot follows a different path when it comes to a thriller, the journey is completely unexpected and pushes the audience to the edge of their seat. Upon viewing the trailer, I assumed a lot about this film, but it certainly proved my skepticism wrong. The writing is well done, The New York Times states that the film is an, “unexpectedly gripping thriller that seesaws between comedy and horror”, they also praised it for being, “cleverly written and wonderfully cast,” and for its, “ice-pick dialogue.” The dialogue is certainly something that stood out within the film, it also added to the intensity of certain moments. The writing for I Care a Lot is just one element that makes the film great.

The second element of the film that is beyond remarkable is the acting, the casting was really well done especially when considering the chemistry between Rosamund Pike and Eiza González. It is not a surprise that Rosamund Pike won a golden globe for this role because she is simply captivating, her character comes to life through her tactful choices as an actor and the chemistry with Eiza González certainly added to that. Along with the two main leads, Peter Dinklage is terrifying, it is hard to forget him in Game of Thrones but in this role, he isn’t at all like his character in that show, he is very different and its refreshing to see him in a new role. Dianne West does a great job as well playing the innocent elderly woman who is prayed on, yet surprisingly has some friends in high places. This cast wonderfully brings the story to life and I look forward to seeing them in new roles in the future.

Lastly the cinematography is interesting, it adds to the story without being too distracting. Doug Emmett executed the cinematography, he is known for films like Sorry to Bother You, The One I Love, and Truth or Dare so it’s no surprise that he did an excellent job. The film is mostly shot in high key which highlights the way Pike shows one side of herself to the world while being incredibly deceitful and truly a monster. She is often filmed in powerful angles that also allow her character to be viewed as authoritative. In addition to that decision, Peter Dinklage is filmed in powerful angles as well which allows his character’s power to command the scene. Decisions like this allow the characters true colors to show while bringing the screenplay to life. Doug Emmett is a masterful cinematographer, and it is also a treat to see his work in films like this.

Generally, I Care a Lot is an enjoyable film that will take the audience on an unforeseen adventure. Some critics state that it is incorrect with the portrayal of the guardian system that is in place in the United States, however personally I don’t think that takes away from the film at all. I Care a Lot is a comment on late-stage capitalism and how the elderly is very vulnerable to vultures like Pike’s character. Not only does the film expose a lot of what’s wrong with the elderly care system in place, but it also comments on how people oftentimes take advantage of perfectly capable individuals in this country. The film has an interesting political point while not being too heavy handed on the point throughout the story. If you wish to see a thriller that has some comedic relief while also being different from the norm, I highly recommend I Care a Lot.