#TIFF20: “I CARE A LOT”

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

J Blakeson’s dark Thriller follows a legal Conservator with insidious intentions. Marla (Rosamund Pike), along with her life and work partner Fran (Eiza González), have created a despicable business of defrauding their elderly clients. Their newest target is the rich and unassuming  Jennifer (Dianne Wiest). After lying to a judge in an emergency hearing, claiming Jennifer has Dementia, Marla gains guardianship of her. However, Jennifer isn’t who she appears to be. Marla and Fran quickly realize they are messing with the wrong woman.

This could have been a Drama about seniors being taken advantage of by the state and appointed guardians. But thankfully, it’s a lot more than that. Blakeson adds a mafia storyline which turns this Drama into a Thriller.

At the forefront is Pike  who delivers her best work since Gone Girl.  She excels as the icy Marla. Being an Antagonist, she finds herself battling against an Antagonist of her own, that being Crime Lord (Peter Dinklage) who has close ties with Jennifer. Dinklage is outstanding as a Gangster who will stop at nothing to get his mother back and away from Marla‘s control. The Film’s shining moment is when Pike and Dinklage come face-to-face and we witness their shifts in power.

I Care A Lot is a cautionary tale about the corrupt web of elderly abuse. We don’t get to see these feminist characters as this in leading roles nearly enough, but we sure wish we did.

I Care A Lot screens at TIFF ’20 as follows:

Sat, Sep 12 9:30pm
RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place

Sun, Sep 13 6:00pm
Online at Bell Digital Cinema