Emily the Criminal

A lot of people writing a lot of stuff about this one. The review here that resonated the most with me was Gabriel_p's. There's a lot of notice of Rossi's age but how old is Audrey's character supposed to be? How long out of college? She's 38 irl, I assume from what the story is inferring that her character is 28 tops. Schnofel wrote here about Happening (2022): "the scenes suggest themselves." That is my review of Emily the Criminal.

Was going to give this a 75 because it's a good crime drama with a great performance from Plaza, but then I thought about how the social commentary never gets in the way of the story and is actually pretty smart. Hard not to feel the rage she feels for an injust system. That she ends the film unable to escape her desire for crime, instead of just living happily ever after clean, is probably more inspired than lot of other movies of this ilk.

Loved the call-to-arms railing against victim-hood. If life hands you lemons, make a cool glass of lemonade and then you can smash it in the face of anyone who's ever taken advantage of you!

There hasn't been a film title this literal since The Cat in the Hat. Plaza absolutely destroyed 2022 between this and The White Lotus.

The first half is intriguing, tense, and had a mystery about what was going on (but why does everyone bring their TVs to the same store parking lot?). The 2nd half dropped the ball for the most part. A lot of what she chooses to do has no consideration for any retaliation or consequences, but she has a "happy" ending regardless. Can anyone believe Rossi is pushing 50 years old? Amazing. Fav scene: yes I agreed with telling the boss lady to go fuck herself.

I wasn't sure how to feel about the main character choices, and as a result about the film in general. At the end, making you question things is a plus in my book, so good film. Plus, this was a good fit for Audrey Plaza

A mostly standard affair that gets elevated at times due to the tension and decision making taking place. These people feel real, they have hopes and dreams, and they are just trying to get a leg up. Or so it seems, no spoilers from me. Good performances and score.

I guess it's an adequate thriller

For the most part Emily the Criminal is a grounded taut and to the point thriller. Aubrey Plaza delivers a really good performance, proving she is capable of playing darker more serious roles. I think the film is really good for what it is, but there's just not a lot else going on. Beyond Emily the characters are fairly thin, and the social commentary is a bit blunt and overly cynical. You may not love it, but it's rather short, and I think there's enough there to warrant giving it a chance.

A decent, simple thriller. Social commentary a bit over the top as the main character curses at people offering unpaid internships etc. but it still worked at other points so not enough to take away from my enjoyment of the movie.

the vibe is ok but the writing is weak: things are just too conveniently arranged for the story to work

Like the dardenne bros without any of their euro pretensions (and all the baggage of that). Great performance by Plaza

Aubrey Plaza is at her best here as the titular Emily who at first embraces the criminal activity as a way to pay off her debts. As she falls futher into the life that is where the layers of this film begin to get rushed. It skips over the best parts and ultimately becomes a romance film with the criminal element on the side. It would have made for a better 4 part miniseries. What you get here is a beginning and an end with little reason in between to set up the high stakes ending.

It's a fine debut film and Audrey Plaza is captivating and does what she can with the material, but Emily the Criminal ultimately is a little too sparse to have lasting impact. The stark almost blunt documentary-style of the film works well to transport the audience into the world of retail crime, but as the film progresses, the scant premise and character development leave you feeling a little disconnected from the main characters. I wasn't bored, but I also didn't care what happened.

I could save her I stg

The setup kind of suggests a fish-out-of-water comedy, but Emily is then painted as a born-again hardass, and for the most part it's compelling and the character pulls the movie's weight quite well. Aubrey Plaza (Emily)'s scene opposite Gina Gershon is a highlight. Here and there it stretches plausibility even for an easy-watching affair such as this, most notably the little action scene near the end, which seemed almost beside the point of the script. Cute, though.

Aubrey Plaza is great in the lead role of this film. Plaza's performance carries this movie. The script is well done, it keeps things interesting. Overall I would recommend this film.

A fine, straightforward, low-artistic quality streamer, unsurprisingly carried by Audrey Plaza who almost can do no wrong. It loses its suspense and credibility in the overwrought third part but up until then it's not hard to be entertained by it at all.

Aubrey Plaza shows nice dramatic chops, even if the actual drama surrounding her is kind of shallow. Student loans turn you into Henry Hill?

Aubrey Plaza makes this worth watching until the very end, because the whole thing around her just feels generic indie thriller on late capitalism's everyday cruelty all over the place. Just imagine what this could've been if directed by the Safdies.

Only an hour and a half, yet it felt kind of slow.

I love suspense/thriller movies that takes place in a small world so helps us understand the characters at its center better. This is a very good movie in that regard: no action cliches, no deus ex machina, no intricate plotting that leads to holes. A very timely look at a few very real problems from an intriguing viewpoint that will make you sit on the edge of your seat.

Plot 10/20 Fiction 13/20 Casting/Acting 14/20 Worldbuilding 14/20 Entertainment 14/20

Do you think unpaid internships are immoral? Are you revolted by debt peonage and the exploitation of independent contractors? Do you find Los Angeles to be a seedy and inscrutable city with a large, pulsing underbelly operating in broad daylight? Are you oddly aroused by the idea of Aubrey Plaza holding a boxcutter to your neck? This is the film for you!

“Emily the Criminal” is an impressive feature directorial debut from John Patton Ford. The film delivers a thrilling story with impressive performances from its cast, specifically Aubrey Plaza. While it falls short in addressing certain issues, it's still an exciting and tense film that captures the struggles of millennials.

Tazegetmoney/dogback:)+herintermittentaccentlol

Aubrey Plaza amazes yet again. She can be seductive as she is talented. She is great at playing troubled and emotional characters. This movie is a thriller lover’s dream. The wick burns the whole way through. It is a rather realistic account of what may make someone become a criminal. The system is broken for Emily, and the more she is shown she is not wanted the more she decides that each rule ordinary humans follow does not apply to her desperate situation.

Breaking Bad has become a genre

There are two good things about this movie: 1. The concept and 2. The runtime. Rest is not good.

This is a fairly well developed movie. I quite enjoyed Aubrey Plaza in this. The movie is well balanced and presented. I could watch this again, and that's saying a lot!

Unpredictable and interesting from beginning to end.

I really like this film. It very obviously comments on the economic hardships of our times, but uses it as a backdrop to tell a very typical crime story with a fascinating twist. There's a series of escalating incidents in the film suggesting that Plaza is more dangerous than she may initially seem, and the film quietly shifts from a story about an innocent person's corruption to a portrait of a possible psychopath.

This is a movie that gets away with some plotholes due to the charming nature of the direction. It helps to be a fan of Plaza & Rossi. Well acted (although many will dislike Rossi's accent) and effective tension building throughout. I quite enjoyed it and will allow the faults it had to pass without too much penalty. A worthwhile little crime caper 7.4. Surprised Rossi is 47 this yr. Baby faced.

I am not really a feminist, but I support everything this woman does.

Always kept me at the edge of my seat wanting more. Really nice.

Emily the Criminal centers on a character who has to step into the world of crime, but you can empathize with. It is sad to see what someone who has graduated from university, who is talented but cannot find a job and cannot pay back the scholarship, has to do. A piece of real life. Good film, good story. I love it. Aubrey Plaza is amazing.

Plaza carries this low-key yet completely engaging thriller admirably.

Aubrey Plaza does Bicycle Thieves. OK, that one is a stretch. But it is an above-average thriller in a world where you can never get out from under debts, Plaza and Rossi really deliver, and the way it gradually draws you into its adrenaline web is really neat.

Emily the Criminal is fine, but ends up a bit underwhelming in the second half

Nice little thriller with a great Aubrey Plaza performance (no surprise there).

Solid little film. Good script. The supporting actor steals the show.

Decent flick

The morality of thievery isn’t under scrutiny here, with Ford shifting the focus instead to the pros and cons of legal and illicit labor, a contest that ends more or less in a wash. Through the conventions of a tidy and efficient little thriller, Emily the Criminal paints a bleak picture of a generation that’s entering adulthood with few avenues to prosperity. In the gig economy, you take what you can get.

Very cool short and tight lil thriller. The social commentary is the highlight and the movie does lose something whenever this falls by the wayside in favour of a typical “new criminal gets in over their head” story Plaza’s fantastic performance always keeps it absorbing.

thoroughly My Shit. comprised of good parts that never tips over into being quite great with a capital G, but this is right at home for a weeknight watch on FX.