I Care Alot, 2020

Rosamund Pike is one of cinema's finest actresses, having appeared in films like Wives and Daughters, Love in a Cold Climate, and Die Another Day. In 2020, she was in a film titled I Care A Lot, a film that received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. This review aims to analyze the film's themes and decide if it is a film worthy of being watched.

Themes and analysis:

 The film’s main theme is greed and corruption, as the film makes it clear from the start that Marla Grayson is a con artist who uses the law system for her best interest. The way that the film portrays Grayson, and her associates can be seen as a reflection of our reality, as corruption is now seen everywhere, and everyone cares about making a profit for themselves without caring what happens to others, including the ones they protect. The film discusses this theme in three ways:

“… There are two types of people in this world, the ones who take and those getting taken. Predators and prey, lions and lambs….My name is Marla Grayson, and I’m not a lamb.”

The first way that the film discusses corruption is through Grayson’s philosophy in life, as she believes that life is like the jungle in which, to survive, you have to eat the weak and the helpless. We see this philosophy in practice when Grayson benefits from being the guardian of elders and uses her guardianship to sell their properties and make deals with the doctor and the manager of the care home. While this way of thinking has been tackled in other films and TV series, I Care A Lot does a good job of merging this philosophy with our reality, as Grayson and her associates can be considered as a good reflection of the corruption in the real world.

“You think you’re good people, you’re not good people…trust me. There’s no such thing as good people. I used to be like you, thinking that working hard and playing fair would lead to success and happiness, but it doesn’t. Playing fair is a joke invented by rich people to make us poor.”

The second way that the film discusses its theme is through the idea that we all wear masks that hide our true intentions. In one scene of the film, we see Grayson applying for an emergency guardianship order from the court. During her session in court, Grayson magnificently wears the mask of one who cares about the elderly and successfully hides her true intention. This is emphasized when we see the judge agree with everything she says and praises her for her reputation. This shows how powerful masks can be, as they were able to fool a judge more than once to achieve the goals in mind. Another thing that makes this special is that it can be traced to another film:  

“….See their morals, their “code,” it’s a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be….The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules”  -  Joker, The Dark Knight, 2008

In 2008, the late Heath Ledger portrayed the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s second installment in his Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight. What made Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker so magnificent is his philosophy in life, which is that our codes and morals are only a mask to hide our true nature and to help us and keep us in check with our actions. Mary Grayson is an example of how Joker’s philosophy is true, as she breaks all the rules made by law, shows no mercy to anyone, and will do anything to survive. Her philosophy in life is also similar to Joker’s, as they both believe that to stay alive, you have to break all the rules.

The third way is that the film shows that evil does not distinguish between man and woman, straight, gay, or lesbian. Grayson uses her status as a woman and uses feminism as a tool to escape from those who challenge her. This also shows the other side of feminism, as it can be used for evil just as it can be used for good.

The film also sends the message that to achieve your dreams, you must never give up and do whatever is necessary to reach them. This message does not fit the main theme of the film, but it does match Grayson’s character and perspective in life. Grayson believes that what she does is just and right because she feels that is her only option in life, she has to eat or be eaten. 

There is another way to look at this message, and that is to link to the film’s themes, But this way of thinking does match the ideas that the film is trying to send. It is as if the film is telling us that being corrupt and deceptive is good and being honest and fair is bad. Ultimately, it is up to the viewers to decide whether to go with the grain or against it.  

Other notes:

From a cinematic perspective, the film is very good. The action is consistent from start to finish, and the thrill is present, and there is no room for boredom. The cast is excellent, as Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, and Eiza Gonzalez do an excellent job of portraying their roles. And despite the film giving Dianne Wiest a minor role, she still succeeds in making it relevant to the plot. The plot itself is fantastic and matches the film’s theme, and it also manages to match Grayson’s message.

The film’s camera work is excellent, as the style that the film is shot in is similar to most thriller films we have seen recently. But there is only one shot that feels awkward and shot poorly, in which Pike is seen swimming and trying to escape. The computerized water doesn’t look realistic and is a bit too dark, which resulted in Pike moving and swimming awkwardly and uncomfortably.

With the addition of action and thrill, I Care A Lot also has some comedic moments that, while being funny, don’t take away the seriousness of the plot.

Conclusion:

I Care A Lot is a film that manages to have a very good plot and a fantastic cast. It manages to use its cast to its fullest potential and succeeds in keeping the action, the thrill, and the comedy consistent. While the film’s theme is clear and reflects our reality, the message in the final scene depends on one’s interpretation of it, and despite the excellent camera work, it does have some bad shots.

I Care A Lot is overall a very good film that can be recommended to anyone and can be watched at any time. It's exciting, clever, funny, and helps expose the corruption that is present.