The eclectic residents of a small, picturesque island town must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars, leading to a series of increasingly bad decisions which upend t...
Director Potsy Ponciroli‘s “Greedy People” is a unique comedic crime thriller that starts off deceptively sunny and quirky, only to plunge into much darker territory as it unfolds. Set in a small, seemingly idyllic seaside town, the film initially gives off an air of whimsical charm that may lead audiences to expect a breezy, lighthearted story. However, it quickly subverts those expectations, diving into a narrative filled with murder, greed, and a cascade of bad decisions that unravel the fabric of a once peaceful small-town community.
The plot kicks into gear when police officers Will (Himesh Patel) and Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) discover a million dollars at the scene of a murder, setting off a chain reaction of increasingly poor choices by the town’s residents (including Lily James, Tim Blake Nelson, Simon Rex, José María Yazpik, and Nina Arianda). What begins as a simple and easy crime quickly spirals completely out of control, as the lure of easy money brings out the worst in everyone.
The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that provide genuine moments of shock, especially as the actions of the characters become more desperate and their respective situations more dire. This is one of the few recent films I’ve seen that actually surprised me at least a half dozen times.
The film’s strength lies in its ability to balance dark humor with an entertaining narrative, and the eccentric, flawed characters are equally endearing yet unlikable at the same time. Their string of disastrous decisions is enjoyable, despite many of them ending with tragic consequences.
Ponciroli, working with a script by Mike Vukadinovich, constantly shifts the tone of his film, which is exciting in itself. This is an unsettling and intense crime story that’s sometimes disguised as a goofy comedy, and both work well. I could see the grim places the narrative goes as being challenging for some audiences, because this tale of the darker aspects of human nature isn’t crafted in a way that is intent on providing a feel-good, happy ending.
Offering much more depth than its initial demeanor suggests, “Greedy People” is a well-crafted story about how easily greed can corrupt the most peaceful of places. It’s one of the more creative and unexpected movies I’ve seen so far this year.
