It’s a crime if you don’t see ‘Emily the Criminal.’ It is the main reason why I enjoy independent filmmaking. It doesn’t have a big budget. It doesn’t have fancy special effects. That’s okay. It has two factors that make it a good film. It has a lean and well-paced script. It also has one of the most underrated actresses in film today. Yes, it stars Aubrey Plaza in the lead role. She’s also the producer of the film. It is the directorial debut for John Patton Ford. He also wrote the script. In an interview, Plaza said it wasn’t easy to secure financing for the project but when she came across such a good script, it was irresistible.
The script is good because it shows us where Emily (Plaza) is in her life. She’s a millennial desperately looking for a decent job to pay off her $70k in student loan debt. When she does make a payment, it goes toward the interest. There is a sober opening scene with Emily in an interview for an office job. The faceless interviewer asks her about her criminal record that includes a DUI and an assault charge in 2016. She gets frustrated and decides to leave the interview rather than go through the humiliation of her sketchy personal life. Emily works at a Grubhub company. Her coworker tells her about a job that would pay her $200 an hour. It interests her enough to call the phone number. It turns out to be a credit card scam operation headed by Youcef (Theo Rossi).
Although she is apprehensive, she goes to a meeting in a warehouse. Youcef tells the group. It’s illegal but nobody gets hurt. It’s essentially a victimless crime. Emily dives into this shady world. She gets a fake license and fake credit card. She has to go into a big box store and purchase certain items like big screen TVs for black market resale. It’s addictive and Emily is hooked. She is also good at it. As the stakes get higher, Emily is sucked into the operation with the rush of a bigger payout. Youcef gives her a taser for protection and a burner phone to contact him without a trace. When Emily has a chance for a job at her friend’s ad agency, she is insulted that the boss (cameo by Gina Gershon) is only offering an internship without pay. Her temper flares up and she walks out. She is now ready to play the system hook, line, and sinker.
There is never a dull moment in ‘Emily the Criminal’ thanks to Plaza’s ferocious performance. It will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s a crime drama with a dash of thriller mixed in for good measure. This actress is known for her deadpan humor which is hilarious in comedy. It is intense in drama. She plays a character that is desperate but never panders to the audience. She’s playing a character that doesn’t care if you like her or not. You don’t have to condone her actions. It’s a gutsy character study. She is not playing a helpless victim. It’s almost like she is a sociopath. You can see it in her eyes. She transitions to a heartless criminal similar to how she views corporate America. She cannot wait to screw over the system that she feels betrayed her. It’s an incredible performance from Plaza. She is the new indie goddess!
Emily says, “Motherf**kers will keep taking from you and taking from you until you make the goddamn rules yourself!” This film reminds me of the gritty ‘70s crime dramas Hollywood never makes any longer. There is something alluring about a female antihero. This film is not condoning millennials to turn to a life of crime to pay off their student loans. It’s a fascinating character study of a woman that is fed up with doors closing on her. Although it is a dark path that she takes, it is one that she controls. Emily is mad as hell and she is not going to take it anymore. This is Plaza’s best performance to date. I cannot wait to see where she takes her movie career next.
