Don't Stream it on Netflix
One kind of movie that is especially aggravating is the kind you want to like but ultimately can't. Those films that might have a character you want to root for (but you can't), an under-explored theme you want to see better developed (but you won't), or maybe a profound commentary about American society and the undiscussed dangers of selfish capitalism delivered with care and nuance (but it isn't). I Care A Lot is one of those rare films that is chock-full of all three of these mishandled elements and then some! It is a film that makes me feel worse than how I felt after sitting through both versions of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice: dirty, depressed, and angry at having wasted my time witnessing many things I love get dragged through the mud for seemingly no justifiable reason. After watching this travesty, I felt like I needed a stiff drink!
The story follows a woman named Marla (Rosamund Pike), a con artist who makes a "living" by playing the legal system to have herself inserted as a "legal guardian" to elderly citizens who show signs of an inability to care for themselves. Except once she's imprisoned the elderly victim into the care facility, she swoops in to seize control of their assets and possessions. It's a steady (albeit amoral) hustle until she decided to make her move on a specific elderly woman named Jennifer (Dianne Wiest), who just so happens to be the mother of a dangerous mob boss named Roman (Peter Dinklage). At first, Roman tries to "reason" with Marla. Still, due to an abundance of overconfidence and pride, along with the discovery of millions of dollars worth of diamonds, she won't release Roman's mother and intends to continue milking her for all she's worth. Needless to say, this does not bode well with Roman, who proceeds to declare war on Marla until they can both come to an "understanding." Oh, and Roman is involved in human trafficking. I just wanted to let you know that.
This film commits the absolute worst offense that any movie could ever commit: you don't care about anyone! None of the characters in this film, especially the protagonist, are likable or sympathetic in any way, shape, or form. Marla makes a "living" by lying her way through the legal system to seize control over helpless elderly people and steal their money and possessions. Meanwhile, Roman is a mob boss who has no issues with sending armed men to an elder care facility to "rescue" his mother. Did I mention that Roman is also involved in human trafficking? I feel that I need to make that abundantly clear because there is never, ever, ever, a good reason to sympathize with or root for a human trafficker!
And yet, with the way this story progresses, it seems to give the impression that we're meant to find some kind of common ground with one of if not both of these criminals, especially Marla. She brags about how being ruthless is the only way to achieve anything in this country, and playing by the rules is only for losers with no ambitions or drive. Her character also attempts to insert a pseudo-feminist message about how people (men especially) can't stand women in power. Which, while sadly true (though I wish it wasn't), is poorly delivered in this film with the overdone "women good, men evil" mentality that does not, in any way, represent actual feminism! At least not in my opinion.
A few genuinely interesting ideas are sprinkled throughout the film. It has the opportunity for clever commentary on American capitalism, not to mention the often undiscussed arguments of working hard vs. playing the game. Sadly, all of these possibilities are either overshadowed by toxic delivery or are abandoned by the wayside in favor of wasting the audience's time with vile characters and an unsatisfying conclusion to it all. It's one thing to tell a depressing story, but it's another thing to be unjustifiably depressing.
Skip this one!
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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