Similar to last year, the releases of January and February are slightly underwhelming. But the usually accounts to the fact that most films come out in the summer. But this film caught my attention.
I Care a Lot is a film written and directed by J Blakeson, of whom I am not familiar with. What struck my attention was the lead Rosamund Pike, who I am very much a fan of. The story follows Marla Grayson, a court appointed legal guardian who scams her older clients, and traps them under her care. But conflict arises when her newest client comes with some unexpected baggage.
You might remember Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne from Gone Girl, which remains her finest work as an actor to date. She channels that same energy into her character in this film, which might be a problem for some, but when an actor is this good at it, I don’t mind. To clear the air, she is wonderful here. Her performance is very engaging, and she devours the screen time she has.
J Blakeson has made a film that is viciously entertaining. The editing and pacing are swift and go by so fast, there is barely any fat to trim. The supporting cast is also great with Peter Dinklage chipping in, as well as Dianne Wiest. This isn’t a particularly memorable film, but the best thing I can say about it, is that I was very entertaining.
One notable criticism I have is the characters themselves. As I said before, Pike is great, Dinklage too. But the characters they play are just deplorable, with no redeeming qualities. I get that that’s the point, and it contributes to this being a black comedy. But there was no reason for me to side with any of these people, least of all care for them. The third and final act attempts to make you care about the protagonist, but that feels very much like a cop out.
Overall, I Care a Lot is very arresting watch, visually and narratively, boasting in a terrific lead performance. But it lacks emotional sustainability, and a lack luster ending.
Cedric Cinema 