By Elliot Lines September 27, 2024
Put together a group of lying, thieving and selfish characters, put them in a small town and throw a million bucks into the equation and what do you get, Greedy People. This dark-comedy shows this genre is alive.
Greedy People slowly pulls back the layers of this murder, all working towards a fiery third act that reveals the different consequences for those involved.
Synopsis
Residents of a small island town navigate a murder and the discovery of a million dollars, a series of increasingly bad decisions upend the once peaceful community.
Review
The first thing you may notice about Greedy People is the stacked cast that the film boasts. With the likes of Lily James, Tim Blake Nelson, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, there is plenty of talent on show. With a straight-to-digital release, you may think that these stars would play a bit-part role; however, each one of them plays a pivotal role in telling this murder mystery story and creating the intertwining of the characters that grace the screen.
The film focuses on Will (Hamish Patel) and Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who are new partners after the Will and wife Paige (Lily James) move to a new town. Gordon-Levitt dials his performance up to 100. From the first interaction, you can tell he’s having fun with the role. Will is a more reserved character, and this shows when they find themselves in a spot of bother, however this is when the film really gets motoring.
Greedy People is structured in a way that allows it to peel off the layers of this mystery one by one. Put into almost character chapters, you’re subjected throughout to learning the part each character plays in the murder that has occurred. Too many fingers in one pie can sometimes complicate the pace of such a film; however, Greedy People introduces these characters and their role in a seamless way.
This Dark-Comedy has its comedic moments; however, they don’t always land, but Greedy People certainly is dark. The film isn’t frightened or held back by main-character syndrome or the stars it involves. It gives the film an element of surprise from scene to scene, especially when it comes to the extremely violent third act.
Throughout the middle section, there was notably a different tone in the score. Reminiscent of The White Lotus, it created an eerie vibe to the investigations that were ongoing.
Greedy People has a interesting and engaging story with multiple layers, revealing new surprises and character developments as the plot unfolds. With a well-stacked cast, it has all the ingredients of a must-watch dark-comedy that deserves to be recognized and appreciated by a wider audience.
Star Rating
Greedy People is out now on digital platforms
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