“I Care a Lot”

Came for the crime-thriller, stayed for Rosamund Pike

By: Avery Wageman

Rosamund Pike stars in the crime-thriller "I Care a Lot" as Marla Grayson, a shady court-appointed guardian for elderly wards. She operates a well-orchestrated scheme with her partner Fran, played by Eiza González, to take advantage of their client's assets. However, their latest gambit complicates their operation when they discover she is not simply a wealthy heir-less woman with no family, but the mother of mobster Roman Lunyov, played by Peter Dinklage. 

"I Care a Lot" could be described as "Ocean's Eleven" meets "Goodfellas" but with the occasional—and awkward—girl-boss-feminist moments. The film lacks substance, and at times the plot seems to lose focus. It's an interesting concept, but there seem to be no real stakes for neither mobster nor shady guardian. However, there are a few twists to keep you interested.

The film stumbles through the plot with not much to move it along, but the actors' performances make the movie worth the watch. "I Care a Lot" is a fun watch, especially to see such great actors as Dinklage and Pike go head-to-head. Neither character is a hero you particularly want to root for, but Marla is so clever and persistent, it's hard not to. Her performance has hints of her character from "Gone Girl," as she plays the cunning, ruthless, clever, determined Marla. This movie has a lot of potential, but Pike carries the film. She even won a Golden Globe for her role.