EMILY THE CRIMINAL

EMILY THE CRIMINAL is about a college art graduate with too many school loans and a dim economic future because of an old felony assault conviction against a former boyfriend, who develops a passion for credit card fraud and the illicit benefits it can bring. Despite its thriller bonafides, EMILY THE CRIMINAL is a character study about the joys and fears of embracing and following your deepest desires, but the story’s female protagonist just happens to be a person who decides that crime is her passion, and the movie also contains lots of strong foul language and other moral issues.

Played by Aubrey Plaza, the title character, Emily, is a college art graduate who works as a delivery person for a restaurant. Saddled with student debt, Emily is unable to get a better job because of an old felony assault conviction.

One day, Emily agrees to do a delivery shift for one of her co-workers, who wants to take his son to a ball game. In return, he gives her a phone number to be a “dummy shopper.” She calls up the number and is asked to attend an orientation the next morning.

Emily finds out the job entails buying expensive goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome, charismatic Lebanese immigrant named Youcef. Emily gets a kick out of engaging in this criminal activity, especially when she manages to turn the tables on two other criminals who try to steal her money stash one night. She also becomes increasingly attracted to Youcef and even meets Youcef’s charming mother. Eventually, they hatch a risky plan to take their illicit business to the next level.

EMILY THE CRIMINAL is a well-acted crime thriller and character study. Because of her student debt, the protagonist, Emily, has abandoned her dreams of doing something with the drawing and painting she learned at college. However, she soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of credit card fraud. Then, when her criminal mentor, and new lover, suggests taking their thievery to the next level, Emily’s is excited by his plan. The plan goes awry, however, and Emily makes a suggestion that’s even more dangerous.

The protagonist’s story in EMILY THE CRIMINAL could be said of any person who finds a new passion and decides to embrace it fully, despite the risks involved. The movie’s writer/director says that’s what attracted him to doing this particular story as his first feature length movie. However, Emily’s story is also a story about getting away with crime. EMILY THE CRIMINAL also has lots of strong foul language, a scene where Emily sleeps with her mentor and brief cocaine use at a party Emily attends. It does show, however, that there’s really no honor among thieves. Eventually, for example, Emily leaves her mentor and lover behind to save her own skin.