Every once in a while, a movie will sneak up on you. On Friday, August 23, 2024, Lionsgate released two movies. The first was the remake of the 1994 Brandon Lee film The Crow. The second is Greedy People, a crime comedy-drama with some sizable stars. The film stars Himesh Patel as Will, a rookie cop married to his pregnant wife, Paige, portrayed by Lily James. On Will’s first day, he accidentally commits a murder. His partner, Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), discovers a large amount of cash at the crime scene. Little do they know, this is just the beginning of a series of surprising events that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
From there, Greedy People morphs into one of the most surprising movies of the year. This limited-release crime thriller has little fanfare, but I’m a fan excited to see how it will fare. The film efficiently establishes each character early on. The standout here is Terry, who might be the worst possible person for a rookie cop to partner up with. He’s a loudmouth who cracks inappropriate jokes and doesn’t exactly do things by the book. This is his second time playing a police officer this year after Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Terry is a very different kind of character from anyone he’s played before, and he steps up to the task. Each main character is so well-developed that you can’t help but feel connected to their journey.
Early on, there’s a sharp sense of humor that works for the tone. The film is written by Michael Vukadinovich, who previously wrote for shows like Runaways and Kidding. He brings a comedic sensibility to a film that has a dark nature. We’re watching two cops commit crimes and cover them up. The movie pulls tension out of how Will deceives his wife and how Paige does not trust Terry because of what she knows about him. The film combines the darkness with the comedy very well.
The narrative also seamlessly switches between a few different perspectives. Although the leading players are Will, Paige, and Terry, we also have characters like Wallace Chetlo, played by Tim Blake Nelson, and an Irish assassin, played by Jim Gaffigan. We stay with every character for the right amount of time. There are many stretches where we’re not following our protagonist, Will, and the film remains just as enjoyable. This could be a flaw since the textured nature of the protagonist is not one of the film’s more substantial elements, but it’s fascinating to see everyone in the movie slowly get their lives torn apart in pursuit of their goals.
Patel gives a good performance, but he can often feel overshadowed by everyone else on screen. James becomes a very compelling character who makes fascinating choices. Not everyone may agree with her choices, but they always make sense for her character. Gordon-Levitt is the standout here. In one scene, he monologues, and we learn about his past. In lesser hands, this monologue may not have worked, but he’s such an enchanting presence that you can’t help but cling to his every last word. The camerawork from director Potsy Pinciroli and cinematographer Eric Koretz also allows this scene to come to life, filling the scene with intensity.
Greedy People draws inspiration from films like Pulp Fiction, where we have an intricately intertwined crime story filled with fascinating characters. Like the best in the genre, this film knows how to have just the right amount of fun. The humor never takes away from the film. Instead, it enhances it, and then, at the precisely correct moment, it steps back. The latter half of the film becomes surprisingly dark. This is where the movie takes itself much more seriously, and it’s all the better for it.
As the movie approaches its thrilling conclusion, it becomes surprisingly unpredictable. It’s hard to predict where each character will end up, but by the time the credits roll, everything has clicked into place and has communicated the power of the danger of greed. Uzo Aduba gets to shine as much as everyone else in the cast, sometimes even brighter. It’s a shame this movie isn’t getting the big release it deserves because it seems like the kind of film people would love. The film may one day find its footing on a streaming platform.
Greedy People is a well-written movie with superb pacing. The story and characters are all fun to watch, and everything builds up to a surprisingly exhilarating finale. The final scene is quite touching, and everything before that is a tragic exploration of greed and deception and the destruction it can leave in its wake. Gordon-Levitt does a fantastic job of weaponizing his signature likability to create a character darker than the roles he’s used to playing. Although the script can have a few logical leaps and conveniences regarding characters showing up at the right place at the right time, this film continuously brings a lot of laughs and thrills to the mid-budget crime comedy genre that has desperately needed new entries.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Greedy People review.
