Emily the Criminal

Aubrey Plaza is very good in 'Emily the Criminal'. I've predominantly seen her in comedic roles, so it's good to see her act in something thriller-ly. I enjoyed her performance from beginning to end, no complaints whatsoever. Theo Rossi also puts in a strong performance, while the rest of the cast are solid. It's an entertaing story, one that wraps up in a different way to what I would've predicted - but that's not a bad thing. Elsewhere, the music is decent - even if one bit of the score sounds straight out of 2011's 'Drive'. The run time is pleasantly short to boot. Rewatchable, in a word.

While “Emily the Criminal” isn't for everyone, it does succeed on many fronts. It's not your run-of-the-mill crime flick; instead, it's an in-depth look at the mind of its main character and examination of criminal behaviour. The film's overall noir vibe appeals to me, and I think its effectiveness as a small-scale thriller stems from its commitment to staying grounded, scaled down, and focused. Additionally commendable is Plaza's performance, and given that this is John Patton Ford's directorial debut, he, too, is deserving of recognition for his efforts. Yet, despite its entertaining nature, the film fails to make a lasting impression. ___ **Rating**: 7.0/10 _(Good)_

Solid film, very cool to see Aubrey Plaza in more serious roles (I'm mostly familiar with her through *Parks and Rec*). Ending didn't really give me the resolution I was looking for, however, and mirroring the way Emily started (except now in South America) felt a little too easy from a storytelling point of view.