‘I Care A Lot’ is a new Netflix film about a crooked court-ordered caretaker Marla (Rosamund Pike) who runs a legal but disusting operation of mining resources of her elderly clients and keeping them in a nursing facility also in on her plot to rob said client. Her luck runs dry after she eyes a woman (Dianne Weist) who, unknown to Marla, is in deep with the criminal underbelly. Now Marla will have to face-off against a equally crafty and terrifying gangster Roman (Peter Dinklage) to be able to get her money and run away with her girlfriend Fran (Eiza González) before her time runs out.
Seeing some of the reactions online and the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, I’m both surprised and not surprised by the reactions. To look at this film as a ‘feminist propaganda’ film is severely undercutting the story, performances, and excellent directing by J Blakeson. This is a film with nobody to root for, but with rich characters that you are mesmerized (or horrified) by. I’ll admit I am a sucker for films with unlikable characters with drive and determination, and this film reminded me of some of my favorites like ‘Nightcrawler’ ‘Whiplash’ or ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.
Rosamund Pike is a showstopper. Her dedication to the character, her physicality in the role, and the pure hatred and admiration you have for her tenacity is a delicate tightrope that she glides through with ease. I loved Peter Dinklage and his character, please put him in more films because anytime he is in a film the movie is always better for it. Perhaps a generic villain, but the way he plays the character makes it a fun performance nonetheless.
Please ignore the audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not been taken over by internet trolls upset about a film they likely didn’t even watch. These are sad, pathetic people who have no opinions other than whatever their politics dictate. If there is anything you take away from my review is that you should watch ‘I Care A Lot’, but go in knowing two things. 1. It’s a dark comedy, you aren’t supposed to feel good about the laughs you may find in the story, nor are you meant to root and agree with any of the characters. Look at the story and performances and I promise you’ll have a good time.