Emily the Criminal

Emily the Criminal

Emily, who is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record, gets involved in a credit card scam that pulls her into the criminal underworld of Los Angeles, ultimately leading to deadly consequences.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Crime, Drama, Thrillers
  • Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Theo Rossi, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Gina Gershon, Jonathan Avigdori, Bernardo Badillo, Craig Stark, Brandon Sklenar
  • Director: John Patton Ford
 Comments
  • philewill - 5 May 2024
    A solid one time
    Movie score, if I was asked to watch it again within a week:

    10, would watch it again soon.

    7, not anytime soon.

    4, once was enough.

    1, regret my time.

    This movie was by no means a bad film just not a repeatable one, it started off slower than I would've liked and it didn't show much of a progression regarding the main characters struggles and their means of overcoming them.

    Still the core message was still told and all the supporting cast were simply a means to an end, they didn't serve to further their own stories, simply the serve the title character instead.

    So I guess once you've seen her story arc, there's nothing else to really appreciate about this film, and that's why now that it's done I can say I definitely enjoyed it but I won't be watching it again.
  • aidanleather - 3 April 2024
    Interesting enough
    Good acting, good shots, good pace, average story. No real twists or turns, nothing to get excited about. But a solidly executed crime thriller, though the term "thriller" is misleading, I'd argue.

    Themes core to the narrative are under-explored. I refer to both Emily's debt--her main motivator, which barely has a visible impact on her life before she decides to turn to a life of credit card fraud--and her prior criminal convictions. The lack of exploration into these narrative points was noticeable.

    Had these themes been explored further--thus raising the stakes a little--it could have been a great movie. Still an okay watch if you're looking for something easy and entertaining enough, though.
  • matthewreinink - 10 January 2024
    Could've been much better
    The first 30 minutes of this movie is pretty good, unfortunately it goes off the rails after that. The first issue comes in the motivation of our protagonist. Emily explains that she has student loans that she is unable to pay off due to her criminal record making it hard for her to find a well paying job. However, we never actually see her struggling to get by. She lives in a decent apartment with a roommate and has a job. You would think the script would include her being behind on rent or perhaps dealing with impending medical bills. At least in that case the urgency would explain why Emily so quickly turns to mass credit card fraud.

    I also hate how we don't see a gun in this movie. What kind of criminal operation is completely unarmed? The lack of guns really lowers the stakes of this movie and makes it much less thrilling.

    I wish they had run the script through the writers room a few more times, because it feels incomplete. Emily is not particularly well written and the story is just not very compelling. The actors do a nice job, but they aren't able to save the film from mediocrity.
  • Binkconn - 9 January 2023
    A great dramatic showcase for Plaza
    This was a great vehicle for Aubrey for those who thought she foundered a bit as a tech bro wife in the second season of The White Lotus. An intense, driven performance as an emotionally-troubled art school graduate unable to survive in the gig economy modern world, who then joins the underworld market of credit card fraud, learning the ropes along the way until all her escape routes back to normalcy are cut off. Her opening job interview scene alone is nomination-worthy. This joins Black Bear as more evidence that she has left her old snarky Parks & Rec image long in the past. Very Recommended!
  • lee_eisenberg - 2 January 2023
    quite a few people in this day and age have no other choice
    We sometimes hear about how financial desperation drives people to extreme actions. The gritty "Emily the Criminal" depicts such a thing. Aubrey Plaza plays a debt-ridden cook who sees no other option but to start working in the black market.

    If you're looking for a pleasant movie, then avoid this one like the coronavirus. The underworld into which the protagonist gets forced comprises all manner of nastiness. But as the movie makes clear, her only alternative is to be an unpaid intern and continue living paycheck to paycheck. Just imagine how many people are in this very situation as you read this.

    It's one intense movie, but stays serious. No overacting, gratuitous violence, or cliches, just the straight stuff. I hope that John Patton Ford continues making this sort of movie.
  • MovieCriticOnline - 27 December 2022
    Holy moly what a surprising gem...
    Holy moly what a surprising gem... with soooooo many terrible movies coming out and finding a decent, let alone, a good movie is like finding a needle in a haystack.

    Reminded me a bit of "Good Time" and also "Straight Time" and that authentic style and BELIEVABLE acting. Never a dull moment from beginning to end, and this is coming from someone who basically gives 98% of movies coming out a bad review, and deservingly so.

    From the cinematography, camera work, and music, this was just excellent and Audrey was amazing.

    I literally had zero expectations of liking this, since I've been hitting 99 to 1 on finding good movies.

    The story was unique and surprising.

    This is what other indie filmmakers like Sean Baker should aspire to do. They have great natural approach to filmmaking, but lack story and excitement, as they have in this one.

    The movie got better and better, which was even more shocking.

    What a breath of fresh air that a movie has a great plot but never forgets about the characters and relationship, and most important, approaches it with such authenticity.

    Emily certainly wasn't the most likable character nor brightest of the bunch and they may have made her a bit too dumb, which seemed a bit inconsistent to the rest of her interactions, like going against their simple instructions of what not to do. Usually, that is the writer being lazy or unable to come up with a better way to create drama and/or conflict, so that is my minor criticism.

    Other than that, it was really good. In summary, I had know idea what to expect, but every minute was pleasantly surprising.

    I recommend this.
  • lisacarlson - 18 December 2022
    A Winner
    The very best part of this movie is I didn't recognize anyone and the pacing, storyline and acting all worked together beautifully. It's a rarity when a show hits the trifecta but this one does. Plaza gives a nuanced performance in what could have been a cliched movie; but it's not with her in the driver's seat. You are cheering for her right from the beginning as there's nothing predictable. It's the best kind of experience. I really enjoyed it. Maybe they could turn this into a series if the writing is on board. There is some violence but this is a thriller and she has great chemistry with everyone in the movie.
  • solminafya - 15 December 2022
    Solid performance of a pointless plot
    There's nothing really here. I don't hold a grasp on what the plot is. Aubrey's performance is good, nothing spectacular though. The movie doesn't feel like it progresses in any way but how Emily (Aubrey Plaza) unleashes her mediocre criminal potential. There's really nothing to miss here. I don't even have so much to write to fill the required 600 review characters

    I won't criticize the so many discrepancies in the movie, it's not even worth that much focus. Just another dull low budget that is mediocre in every possible way. No deep conflict, no climatic resolution, now surprising endings, no plot twists, nothing really. Just save your time.
  • dsavary-84835 - 12 December 2022
    Riveting right out of the gate
    Emily the Criminal, is a bit like breaking bad for college undergrad/dropouts. Young Emily (Aubrey Plaza) has a checkered past that clearly started developing early. One she is trying to rise above with significant adversity at every turn. She carries a medium sized chip on her shoulder, not being given a chance or raked over coals in interviews to embarrass and demean her into accepting the lowest paying handout work, as she appears to have talent well beyond what's handed out. She's entirely unapologetic about her past, specifics are barely revealed or left totally vague. When asked about the specifics by one prospective employer she says, "No." and leaves. To the point you start to wonder if they were marginal offences, wrong place, wrong time, the book was thrown, or she simply feels completely justified. She has an edge that may have gotten her in these situations and out of them one way or another. Based on her demeanor, one can't help but think whatever crimes and misdemeanors she committed for one reason or another, were righteous enough. Emily exudes this "I'm bad, but they were worse, messed with me and got what they deserved" attitude just under the surface. For this reason, shortcuts are required. This was portrayed very well. This girl was dealt a bad hand early in life, knocked down, kicked, told to stay down and take whatever small scraps the world tosses off the table. She chose to get back up and hold on to some dignity as a free spirit in this murky downtrodden life she knows she was never meant for. Now, she's done with catering to them. Quickly falling in with a credit card fraud ring and tentatively latching on to it's apparent leader, while walking the thin line trying to go on interviews for legitimate work. Until she sees a fast way up and out. This film is exceptionally well paced, a slippery slope downward spirals into theft, felony, and violence. With all manner of conflict and shady bad characters to speed her on her way to full on criminal, escape. Or both? Plaza puts in one of the more intense performances of her ever expanding career, breathing real life into this role. Effortlessly branching into psycho drama. Noted as filmed "in the worse places in LA" seems pretty accurate, these are places you don't want to be hanging around after dark. She instantly becomes part of the backdrop, appearing wise beyond her years, figuratively and literally in the harsh light of a streetlamp. Cold or naive as required to get through this to the other side, whatever that might be. A natural actor playing a natural born criminal. It all blends seamlessly together to riveting perfection. Does not let up right to the end. Solid film making and performances.
  • freqflyer60 - 11 December 2022
    No creativity
    This movie is somewhat interesting in the beginning but when she starts her 'dumb' shopper gig it falls apart. Who is a tough person with a taser, box cutter or pepper spray? This movie attempts to make the female character a 'bad ass' but doesn't come close. Emily drops out of college and has a criminal record so she can't get a job because the interviewer asks her about he past and she ends up getting pissed off and yelling at them for asking about her criminal record. Since when did this become such a bad thing when interviewing potential employees? Are people really this clueless? Are watching men really that tough? The answer is no. So don't waste your time watching this lame movie.