I Care a Lot

Directed by J Blakeson, I Care a Lot follows Rosamund Pike’s Marla Grayson as she and her partner (Eiza González’s Fran) find themselves in a whole mess of trouble after they take advantage of a senior (Dianne Wiest’s Jennifer Peterson) with unexpectedly powerful connections. Filmmaker Blakeson, working from his own screenplay, kicks I Care a Lot off with an absolute stunner of an opening sequence that perfectly (and effectively) sets the stage for a narrative rife with unpredictable twists and turns, with the picture’s novel, progressively engrossing setup enhanced and heightened by the efforts of a uniformly captivating cast – with Pike’s often stunning turn as the ice-cold central character matched by a fantastic supporting cast that includes Chris Messina and Peter Dinklage. (The latter’s mesmerizing work here remains an obvious highlight, ultimately.) There’s little doubt, as well, that the movie benefits from an ongoing emphasis on enthralling, exhilarating scenes and sequences, and although the second half is perhaps just a little longer than is ideal, I Care a Lot bounces back with a knockout of a closing stretch that cements its place as an accomplished (and often impressively nasty) little thriller.

***1/2 out of ****