It also rebalances our allegiance. There is, in one
sense, no one to root for “I Care a Lot,” a movie
where the most sympathetic figure drugs
her imprisoned wards to keep them quiet.
Instead, Blakeson’s film is gleefully amoral, less
concerned with judging its obviously heinous
characters than crafting a satire of American
capitalism as a system where human trafficking
is a mode of doing business.
It also positions Marla as something more than
a greedy vulture. Her resistance to the various
entreaties from Roman’s team — foremost
among them is a very good Chris Messina as
a knowing attorney who nevertheless can’t
match Marla in court — seems reckless and
foolish at first. Who would dare turn down a
fearsome, well-armed international mafioso
who, in this case, also happens to be in the
right? But Marla’s resistance, as a woman
undeterred by male intimidation, accumulates
in courage. “Do you know how many times
I’ve been threatened by a man?” she says,
utterly unimpressed.
Is this a lot for a film about a corrupt court-
appointed guardian? Yes. It doesn’t all fit
together, and “I Care a Lot” has ultimately no
way of resolving its fairly ludicrous plot. But
it’s strong, gripping, unpredictable pulp, and
Pike pulls something off that few else could
as a protagonist. She’s quite detestable and
completely compelling.
“I Care a Lot,” a Netflix release, is rated R by
the Motion Picture Association of America
for language throughout and some violence.
Running time: 118 minutes. Three stars out
of four.