Emily the Criminal is a solid thriller that is elevated by two excellent lead performances.
Aubrey Plaza is one of my go to actors who can make even a mediocre film enjoyable. She plays Emily, an artist struggling to pay off student loans and to get a decent job due to some felony charges on her ‘permanent record.’ She doesn’t look like a criminal, she’s pretty, educated and willing to work hard. What she has difficulty with is putting up with people who treat her unfairly and this spikiness means she bounces from one poorly paid job to another.
When she does a coworker a favour, he hooks her up with some well paid jobs that are clearly illegal. You can see her weigh up her options and then be unable to say no. What is surprising (initially to us at least) is that she’s got what it takes to defraud people and to cope with the physical dangers that come with operating in the black market. She knows how to stand up for herself.
Her erstwhile boss is Youcef (Theo Rossi) and as their connection strengthens, we find out what they have in common and also what sets her apart. Suffice to say there’s a fair bit of tension as the stakes get higher and Emily shows her mettle.
This is director John Patton Ford‘s first feature and it is a taut and accomplished ride. He keeps the tension up throughout and develops Emily’s character in such a way that you’re genuinely not sure how it’s going to end. There are probably aspects of the plot that aren’t completely believable but you are so engrossed in Emily’s journey that it doesn’t really matter. It’s great to see a female lead in what might usually be a story of a male character, particularly as Ford avoids making her gender an issue and the tropes that can go with that.
The ending is satisfying and everything you want it to be.
Have you seen this film? Let me know your thoughts.
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