Emily the Criminal

Aubrey Plaza is among my favorite actresses, and her performance in this film did not disappoint. However, I found myself somewhat let down by the screenplay, which lacked depth and consistency. At times, it seemed to veer away from the genre, only to circle back without much cohesion. My main issue, though, lay with the overall tone. While I didn't dislike Emily as a character, I couldn't fully get behind her actions. She crossed moral boundaries repeatedly, showing no qualms about theft, deceit, or even potential violence. Sure, she was a woman, so what? Should I root for her because she was in debt and because her being convicted of a violent crime prevented her from getting a better job? Talk about double standards. /Lesson learned: Slopes can be slippery. (13.04.2024)

A small, low-key, but very gripping and suspenseful thriller starring the excellent Aubrey Plaza! Emily The Criminal is one of those films that doesn't really entice at first glance, it had been sitting in my Want To See folder for quite a while. I wasn't expecting anything from it, but I'm very pleasantly surprised with the result. What I got was proper thriller that may not have higher ambitions, but hooked me from the first minutes and didn't let go until the end. If a film can grab your attention like that, where you don't feel the urge to look at your mobile, then that's the calling card of a good film. Aubrey Plaza has quite possibly cut the best role of her career here, it's her One Woman Show. She plays a woman in debt who has done some jail time. She needs to get some money fast and hasn't been able to find a solid job. But she gets an interesting offer to make $200 an hour, so she takes a chance and before you know it, she's a member of a criminal gang focused on credit card forgery. For my money, a pretty decent look into a crime organization focusing on something I haven't seen a film about, so the premise alone makes the film compelling. Aubrey Plaza gets herself into some uncomfortable situations – you could cut the tension in the car purchase scene. It's well acted and skillfully shot, doesn't lack suspense and, most importantly manages, to entertain as well. I am satisfied and can safely recommend it further. 75%. (06.04.2023)