Emily the Criminal

So often these mid to lower budget films pass me by, I hear some good praise but often miss my chance to watch them as they disappear off into the ether but when I found myself in the mood for something different one evening, I decided to see what Emily the Criminal was about. The directorial debut for John Patton Ford with a budget of under $2 million and starring Aubrey Plaza, Emily the Criminal premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022 and picked up a number of awards dedicated to indie films. Shaking up run of multi-million dollar extravaganzas on this blog, it was time to see how I'd fair with something a little different...

Plaza here stars as the LA based felon, Emily, struggling to pay off her student debt but is tipped-off by a colleague where she can make extra cash if she doesn't mind getting involved with some shady business organised by Theo Rossi's Youcef. The money is good but this leads her down a path of chasing greater risk for greater reward. 

Ford keeps the story very tight and with great performances all round, I found this to be a thoroughly engaging 90 minute film that is boasted by great performances from Plaza and Rossi. Everything moves with great pacing thanks to a solid screenplay, worthy of the Independent Spirit Award, and the social commentary keeps this feeling lively to the closing credits. 

Emily the Criminal might not necessarily be in much conversation this time next year but I hope we see more films from its director and helps excel Plaza as she breaks away from comedic roles where she made her name in Parks and Recreation. This is overall a solid little crime film that is easy to recommend for anyone intrigued by the premise.