Weekend Watch: I Care A Lot
Rosamund Pike believes in old money
Image Credit: Netflix
Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, in which I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, Rosamund Pike is the last person who should be looking after the elderly…
Would you trust Rosamund Pike’s Marla Grayson to care for your elderly relatives? On the face of it, she appears to be a state guardian who is also a guardian angel for those deemed unable to care for themselves. In reality? She’s a devil in disguise, a woman who plays fast and loose with the truth and stretches the law to breaking point so she can park old folk in care homes and grab their assets. With the help of friendly doctors, she has them declared incapable, goes to court to become their ward and then goes to work, selling off the unfortunate target’s house to pay for their upkeep – while she enjoys the profits. But Marla is about to target the wrong older person: Dianne Wiest’s Jennifer Peterson. Outwardly, she’s a “cherry”, a perfect target for Marla, with wealth to spare and seemingly no family to object. Jennifer, though, has very powerful connections, and they’re about to make life uncomfortable for Marla.
Basing your film around a character who, on paper at least, is so totally unlikeable, and featuring no one you really root for, is an ambitious risk. But it’s one that writer/director J Blakeson (The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, The Fifth Wave) pulls off with skill and style. His script is sharp, swift and witty, whisking you along the story and turning Marla into a compelling character. It doesn’t hurt that Pike is the perfect person to bring the conniving carer to life. With her background in films such as Gone Girl, you know she can play sociopathic, but Marla is something else. Charming, shark-like and always one step ahead of the competition, she’s got the drive and determination. It’s actually entertaining to see Marla pull off her crafty, corrupt work, as opposed to shocking. Love to hate? Certainly.
Against her, most of the other characters don’t make much of an impression, though it is fun to see Dianne Wiest turn into a sweary, dangerous woman, while Peter Dinklage as a criminal boss also has some fun moments to play. Eiza González, meanwhile, as Marla’s girlfriend Fran, only has a few chances to make much of an impression. And the momentum leaves the film a little towards the end, with a few predictable final scenes.
Don’t let that put you off, though: I Care A Lot twists enough to be watchable. And to make you want to check on any available grandparent.
I Care A Lot is on Netflix now.