GREEDY PEOPLE

(director: Potsy Ponciroli; screenwriter: Mike Vukadinovich; cinematographer: Eric Koretz; editor: Jamie Kirkpatrick; music: Jordan Lehning; cast: Himesh Petel (Will Shelley), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Terry), Traci Lords (Virginia Chetlo), Jim Gaffigan (The Irishman), Lily James (Paige), Uzo Aduba (Murphy), Tim Blake Nelson (Wallace), Simon Rex (Keith), Nina Arianda (Deborah); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: David Boies, Shannon Houchins, Chris Parker, Zach Schiller, Potsy Ponciroli, Dylan Sellers; Lionsgate; 2024)

“A minor crime film, with a dark humor and some laughs.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A Coen brothers-like crime caper directed by Potsy Ponciroli (“Old Henry”/”Super Heroes”) and written by Mike Vukadinovich. It’s a minor film, with a dark humor and some laughs. But it never becomes more than a slightly amusing murder mystery despite all its twists and its Coen brothers influence.
 
At Providence, a quiet seaside village in the south, Will Shelley (Himesh Petel) moves into the small town with his pregnant wife Paige (Lily James) and joins the police force. The reserved Will is partnered with the loudmouth vet Terry (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Terry tells the rookie not to kill anyone unless he has to.

Nevertheless on Will’s first day, he by accident kills Virginia Chetlo (Traci Lords) and by the corpse the cops find in a bag a million dollars. They decide to keep it secret and cover up the murder as a case of an unknown assault. But Will blabs about it to his wife.

The ensuing cover-up involves dealing with some other greedy characters like the wealthy businessman (Tim Blake Nelson) and a shadowy hitman (Jim Gaffigan). There’s also the fear by those involved that the straight-laced police chief (Uzo Aduba) might suspect things are not kosher.
 
Everything we need to know happens in the film’s first half, and by the second half there’s little going on but for more twists and laughs.

REVIEWED ON 10/13/2024  GRADE: B-
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