‘Greedy People’ Review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Coens-Lite Thriller Strains for Dark Laughs

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for darkly comedic thrillers, I found myself diving headfirst into the chaotic world of “Greedy People”. The film started off promisingly, with its intricate plot and colorful characters reminiscent of the Coen Brothers’ masterpieces. However, much like a video game where the excitement quickly wanes as you progress through repetitive levels, this movie seemed to lose steam as the body count increased.

As a new gamer diving into the world of “Greedy People,” I was warned on my first day: “Don’t pull the trigger unless it’s absolutely necessary.” But alas, my fingers slipped, and I accidentally took down an NPC (Non-Player Character). This mistake set off a chain reaction of lethal encounters that gave this darkly comical thriller quite the high kill count.

Instead of unfolding against the backdrop of a snowy Midwest town, this story takes place on a small island community, bearing similarities to the quirky narrative of ‘Fargo’. The cast is diverse, with most characters either exhibiting a delightful immorality or sheer stupidity. The intricate plotline kicks off when police officer Will (Himesh Patel) answers an emergency call and nearly shoots a woman (Traci Lords), who was simply going about her daily routine in her kitchen. She becomes distraught and attacks him, resulting in her death during the subsequent struggle.

In a twist of events, I find myself, as Joe, drawn into a web of deceit when my partner Terry, savoring his character’s unscrupulousness, persuades me to manipulate the evidence and pin the murder on a burglar – all the more so when we stumble upon a massive cache of one million dollars hidden in the house, which we decide to keep secret. However, things take an unexpected turn when we learn that the victim’s wealthy shrimp dealer husband (Tim Blake Nelson) had actually hired a hitman to eliminate his wife, paving the way for him to wed his lover (Nina Arianda). Of course, suspicion starts to creep in as he begins to suspect he’s been duped.

As the story unfolds, it seems that almost everyone on the island becomes entangled in the mystery. Among those ensnared are a massage therapist with a less than respectable reputation (Simon Rex from ‘Red Rocket’), who offers more than just massages; Will’s heavily pregnant wife (Lily Collins, working alongside her co-star Patel from ‘Yesterday’), who grows increasingly suspicious of Terry after he apparently runs over her cherished pet dog; another hired assassin, “The Irishman” (Jim Gaffigan), who tries but fails to appear intimidating, as seen in his tear-off flyers boasting, “The Last Handyman You’ll Ever Need”; and the no-nonsense police chief (Uzo Aduba), who serves as this film’s equivalent to Frances McDormand’s Marge Gunderson.

Screenwriter Mike Vukadinovich (known for ‘Kidding’ on Showtime starring Jim Carrey, and ‘Rememory’) consistently strives for a dark comedic tone, achieving it occasionally, such as when The Irishman remarks about his occupation, “Even the most distasteful job can be conducted ethically.” However, he often struggles to seamlessly combine graphic brutality with dry humor. This struggle is evident in instances like the title not appearing on screen until more than twenty minutes have passed.

In his highly praised Western “Old Henry,” Director Potsy Ponciroli clearly showed his skill, but this film doesn’t quite meet expectations. The movie appears to lack the bold, distinctive style needed for the escalating improbabilities (by the end, there are few characters left alive, which could be a major concern for tourism on the island), and it seems overloaded with excess storylines that don’t add much value.

Although I put in a lot of effort rooting for the talented cast of Greedy People, it fell short of meeting its grand aspirations. True to its name, it seems to be overly ambitious, trying to savor both comedic moments and graphic violence at once.

2024-08-21 19:25

Read More