I Care A Lot is a hugely entertaining thriller, a side-swipe at 21st century capitalism n the US, and a joyous film of representation.
Rosamund Pike is on top form as the (beautifully suited) Maria Grayson, a court-appointed guardian for elderly people who need care and support. Well, that is how she presents, but in fact she asset-strips them, seizing their homes to pay for her (inflated) services, care home bills – working with her business and life partner Fran (Eiza González) to fund their glamorous life style.
All is going well until they move in on their latest mark, Fran (the wonderful Dianne Wiest), a wealthy retiree with no living family. But it turns out she has her own shady links and Maria and Fran soon come up against a volatile gangster (impeccably played by Peter Dinklage).
Nobody comes out of this film as the ‘good guy’ – but that is what makes it so much fun! It is gleeful in the way it relishes how nasty these people are, and in these beige times, seeing a stellar cast looking fine, behaving badly and swearing roundly is a truly escapist experience. (I for one and very much here for Dianne Wiest cursing viciously!) But this is also a sad film and an indictment of where capitalism is taking us, throwing up interesting areas for discussion.
And, of course, we have to delight in a film with real representation – a central couple who are lesbians, but this fact is NEVER commented on, and a villain with dwarfism, another fact which isn’t mentioned. More representation please, amongst the baddies as well as lovely people.
It’s ending may not hit quite right but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
