Sundance 2022

Aubrey Plaza stars as Emily, an art school dropout who can’t secure any gainful employment because of a few blemishes on her criminal record. She’s still saddled with insurmountable student debt when a co-worker presents an opportunity to earn $200 for one hour of work. This offer presents a fork in the road for her life and career. Once she decides to go down one path, she won’t be able to go back. Aubrey Plaza delivers an outstanding performance in this particular role, which is quite distinct from any of her previous ones. The film levies a subtle critique on the lack of economic mobility for those who’ve been convicted of a crime in the past but also manages to be an anxiety-inducing thriller akin to “Uncut Gems.” Written and directed by John Patton Ford and featuring supporting performances from Theo Rossi, Gina Gershon and John Billingsley, “Emily the Criminal” is one of my favorites from Sundance. Everyone should check this out whenever it gets a wide release.

— 4.5 / 5 ⭐