One would think the good people at Lionsgate might be trying to hide Greedy People by quietly announcing its release in theaters this month, just last week. The Lily James and Joseph Gordon-Levitt vehicle came out on August 23rd with very little fanfare. Not to mention, August (and January) are known as the dumping grounds for films studios are ashamed of.
However, I am relieved to set the record straight: Greedy People is a bloody good time. The film is full of quirky characters, ominous motivations, and moral ambiguity, exploring how ordinary people can be driven to acts of money lust and even murder—all while maintaining the core value of these types of films, where almost no one gets away clean.
Greedy People’s Review and Synopsis
Originally titled “The Problem in Providence,” the film follows a new couple (Himesh Patel and Lily James) in Rhode Island. Patel’s character has a sordid past as the son of a convicted bank robber and is now starting his first day in “The Renaissance City.” He wants a clean slate, especially since his wife is pregnant with their first child, and to be a man they can be proud of.
The script is full of scoundrels that make the experience darkly comic. These include his new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a couple of assassins (Jim Gaffigan and Narcos: Mexico’s José María Yazpik), the owner of a shrimping business (Tim Blake Nelson), his forthright assistant (Nina Arianda), a lascivious masseuse (Red Rocket’s Simon Rex), and a grieving police chief (Orange is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba).
The Cast of Greedy People Gives Wickedly Good Turns!
This is the third film directed by Potsy Ponciroli, who takes all the small-town charm and morals and throws them out the window in Greedy People’s first act. With the exception of Abuda’s police chief, everyone is tied to the murder of the wife (Traci Lords) of the wealthiest man in town. They all become aware of a bag of missing cash at the crime scene and are trying to find it.
The script by Michael Vukadinovich (Rememory) is clever and unafraid to pull punches, with no one being safe, including the film’s biggest stars. The film has a very entertaining way of deconstructing themes of greed and ambition, family and relationships, and power and control. The presentation is nothing new, certainly not original, but even the most innocent can find themselves in a wicked game of moral compromise that can be riveting.
Is Greedy People Worth Watching?
Greedy People is worth watching for its dark comic performances, suspenseful story, and constantly surprising twists and turns. Even the most pious characters find themselves toeing an ethical gray area. The performances are strong, especially from Gordon-Levitt, who revels in the role. Patel is also very funny and has good chemistry with James—their first film together since Yesterday.
Ponciroli’s latest film may lack the highly stylized, go-for-broke attitude of Very Bad Things or the profound paranoia of A Simple Plan. For instance, the script tries too hard to give the film a saccharine-sweet ending that does feel out of place.
However, Vukadinovich’s script hits (and manipulates) the sweet spots of the genre. It can be a savagely amusing ride that can’t help but dip its toe into sentimentality by the end. At the very least, the movie hits a few vicarious notes, with some teeth that leave a mark, but would have benefited by breaking the skin.
You can watch Greedy People only in theaters on August 23.
7/10
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