Written Review by John Delia
Very convincing and intense throughout, Emily the Criminal opens this weekend in theaters. The film is one of the better independent productions at the movies and a nice break out for Director and Writer John Patton Ford. Performances, cinematography and an original storyline make it a best bet for entertainment. If you like taught involving movies, it should be high on your list.
Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is not the perfect candidate for an office job because she has had a few setbacks including a DUI and an aggravated assault on her record. However, she needs a job with having 50,000 in student debt. So after a tough time at an interview she goes to her low paying job and accepts the fact that there may be no way out.
Before leaving work that day, Javier (Bernardo Badillo) asks her to take his night shift and in return tells her there’s a job possibility that pays 200 per hour for being a “Dummy Shopper”. So begins a story of Emily who finds herself trapped in a world of crime and fighting to survive. Director John Patton Ford puts his main character to task as she enters into a deal with unsavory Youcef (Theo Rossi) thinking she can make some quick money to get her head above water on dept. The film takes several twists each driving Emily deeper into crime that has a possibility of being deadly.
The acting here by Aubrey Plaza makes the film very compelling. As Emily we can see what can cause a downward spiral when a person takes that fatal chance to break out of her complicate world. Whether you agree with Emily on her choice and decisions of paying off her student debt, it makes you wonder about how many are like her in real life. So daring and provocative, Aubrey gets a lot of praise from this writer for her fine performance.
Emily the Criminal has been rated R by the MPAA for language, some violence and brief drug use. There is also some brutality, smoking, sexuality and torture. The story is very good, and reminded a bit of the series “Good Girls” that I liked a lot.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Bernardo Badillo, Theo Rossi
Directed and written by: John Patton Ford
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for language, some violence and brief drug use.
Running Time: 1 hr. 33 min.
Opening Date: August 12, 2022
Distributed by: Vertical Entertainment and Roadside Attractions
Released in: Theaters