I Care a Lot is a dark-comedy thriller focusing on the “care”, which is in quotes because the main character does not actually care for them: the elderly and their lack of autonomy.
I Care a Lot premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), with a big crowd cheering it on and Netflix stepping up to buy the distribution rights. It is written and directed by J Blakeson, known for The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009) and the disappointing 2016 novel adaptation, The 5th Wave. It stars Rosamund Pike in a role where she excels and is in top form, playing a power-hungry shrew. The supporting cast is just as great, consisting of Peter Dinklage, Eiza González, Dianne Wiest, Chris Messina, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
The film centres around the ice-cool and slick Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike), a court-appointed guardian and an unscrupulous profiteer. She abuses the system as she gaslights and tricks her elderly clients, all within the bounds of the law. Condemns them to a life in care facilities, even though they do not need to be there, as Marla controls all their assets. She has made quite a lot of money selling off the assets of dozens of retirees trapped in her permanent care.
One day, Marla and her partner Fran (Eiza González) stumble upon a veritable “golden goose” by the name of Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest). Jennifer has no kids, no apparent family, or debt. She does, however, has a considerable fortune that Marla wants to get her hands on. But, while applying their scam, Marla and Fran discover that their next “victim” is not who they thought she was and that their actions have disturbed the designs of a crime lord, Roman Lunyov (Peter Dinklage).
Rosamund Pike, like in most of her movies, steals the show. It is her juiciest role since Gone Girl (2014), and she sinks her teeth into it. Fiery yet devious, just like her character proclaims: like a fucking lioness. You cannot take your eyes off her. She plays a heartless, unconcerned, and morally grey character that is hard for the audience to root for, but you end up rooting for her anyway due to how good she is in the role. In a way, Marla is quite like Pike’s Academy Award-nominated character in Gone Girl, Amy Dunne, right down to the bob haircut.
As likeable as Rosamund Pike is, there are no likable characters in this film. They are all cold, slick, and heartless people. They do everything they possibly can to get what they want. From Chris Messina’s slimy lawyer to Peter Dinklage’s cruel and bearded mob boss – there’s no-one to stop them.
I Care a Lot is a satire about scams directed at the elderly and the American health care system. It shows how unsympathetic people treat the elderly. These scams do happen, which makes the film heartbreaking in the first act. You feel Jennifer Peterson’s pain and confusion as she’s dragged out of her house, even without knowing the character at that point in the film. It shines a light on that type of industry, though taking it to extreme and satirical methods.
Sharp, witty, and piquant in its first two acts, the third act suffers from cliché thriller movie conventions and dragging. Another problem that the film has is that you know where the story is going, although you will not guess the ending. There are few possibilities on how a movie like this will end the way the film is presented. Still, the production design, costumes, and cinematography by Doug Emmett, help to deceive the audience from its dark tones and subject matter.
In conclusion, the film is about greed and what people will do to get what they want, for both the good and the bad. It is highly entertaining, quirky, amusing, and hilarious. I Care a Lot is carried by an excellent performance by the always fabulous Rosamund Pike, a charming and funny supporting cast, and J Blakeson’s stylistic directing. Although it may be a tad bit long, and the last act is not as strong as the first two, it is undoubtedly a fun and entertaining ride.
Fun Fact:
Rosamund Pike and Chris Messina both starred in adaptations of Gillian Flynn novels. Pike in Gone Girl (2014) and Messina in Sharp Objects (2018).
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