I Care A Lot: The 10 Best Quotes From The Movie

Content Warning: the following article contains depictions of violence

The J Blakeson new Netflix heist crime thriller I Care A Lot features a magnetic Peter Dinklage and Rosamund Pike reprising their cool-guy/cool-girl archetypes. The movie divided many of its viewers, whether average audience members or critics praising the performances but panning the more simplistic aspects. Nonetheless, looking at the characters themselves and what they offer, the dialogue is so keenly and often comedically delivered by the cast as a whole, certain phrases can stick to the memory.

The protagonist Marla in particular has a lot of tag-worthy lines as she essentially is a caricature of a ruthless businessperson, to the point of splurting out catchphrases instead of any inclination of intimidation or fear, much to the film’s hilarity.

10 “I Could Just As Easily Kill You If This Thing Continues Any Longer.”

After the entirety of the climax and Marla and Fran’s “justified” vengeance on Russian crime boss Roman Lunyov leaving him heavily sedated and naked in the middle of the forest, Roman has a more down-to-earth heart-to-heart with Marla. She’s taken him on as his legal guardian since he’s identified by the system as a John Doe, much to his chagrin. After being discharged, he continues to nonchalantly threaten her, in which she replies this line confidently. This changes his tone as ultimately: she’s right. He’s literally under her legal care and in a wheelchair because of her.

9 “You Can Arrange for Ten Million Dollars To Be Moved Into My Account.”

Marla is not necessarily unstoppable as she is insanely persistent, somehow with the inability to feel fear and have the strength and intelligence to repeatedly dodge death.

This leads her to kidnap the Russian crime boss, sedate him, and lean over his hospital bed stating she’s his new legal guardian. He tries speaking up, but can’t due to the tube in his throat. Marla triumphantly tells him she’ll call a nurse to get the tube out so he can sign over the money to her.

8 “You’re My Guardian Robber!”

Diane Wiest as Jennifer Peterson (which seems to be her alias) is delightfully dark as Roman Lunyov’s mother. Though she appears to be a kind elderly lady, she hides massive secrets and a devilish intelligence. When Marla grills her after Jennifer has been heavily drugged at the nursing home, Jennifer manages to avoid giving her any valuable information and instead turns it around on her after Marla threatens her by mentioning she’s found her diamonds. Instead of admitting defeat, Jennifer is able to, hilariously, hit the nail on the head by yelling the quote.

7 “Just Know Who You Are, And Use That to Your Advantage.”

While there’s plenty of attempts at humor delivered by main and supporting characters, there’s also seems to be no shortage of wise mantras that anyone could realistically adopt. While it may not lead anyone to massive riches and Bezos-level fame and success as it did Marla, it’s generally pretty good advice as well as completely summarizing Marla’s character. Marla knows exactly who and what she is and uses it to her advantage in order to manipulate people and money into her power.

6 “I Cut All Her Fingers Off With a Breadknife, She’s Buried Under a Jimmy John’s Now.”

Upon Marla and Roman’s first meeting, considering he repeatedly threatens her and ends up trying to kill her, it goes surprisingly smooth.

Even after suffocating Marla with a bag in order to strike fear into her and intimidate her, she can’t be shaken, laying on one comeback after another. Roman comments on how she reminds him of a woman he’d met years before, someone “fiery,” and fearless. He then reveals what it was exactly he did to her in a deadpan statement. Marla still can’t be shaken.

5 “I Thought He’d Last Us At Least Another Five Years.”

After just being introduced to Marla and her game of taking in older people as their legal guardians and swindling them for their assets, Marla proudly saunters into her office. It seems she has it all: a dedicated partner, admiring coworkers, a nice workspace. She swiftly takes a call from an organizer from one of the old folks’ homes who informs her that one of her people, an old man, passed away under their care. At first, seeming saddened and sympathetic to the loss as Marla takes a moment to stare at the man’s photo before revealing that she really just cared about him lasting them five more years for the sake of stealing his things.

4 “This Playing Fair, Being Scared? That’s Gets You Nowhere. That Gets You Beat.”

Another wise Marla-ism, she often repeats this piece of advice to herself throughout the film. In reality, she repeats these phrases to herself as to rehearse for the real thing, seeming to be quite used to being questioned and interviewed, or rather, prepares for it. While she acts more real with Roman, she says the same thing to him as she does in a big news interview. Marla states this after having been captured by Roman and meeting him for the first time as well as in her narration.

3 “Well, That’s Very Pretty.”

After Marla has taken Jennifer Peterson under her “guardianship” and refuses to let her go, even going as far as to have her drugged with access to minimal resources to force her to comply, Roman sends a lawyer to try and get Marla to let Jennifer Peterson go.

After some smooth exchanges that Marla airily lets go over her shoulder, the lawyer makes the mistake of showing her a large sum of cash in a case as one of his first offers. Marla responds with the quote, her eyes sparkling at the opportunity. Afterwards, she shoots down his offer and counters with 10 million dollars or nothing, figuring Peterson is worth much more than the original lowball sum of money.

2 “I’ve Been Poor. It Doesn’t Agree With Me.”

In Marla’s introductory monologue over a scene of elders in a folks’ home being given their food and medications, Marla states what is likely the most relatable line in the entire film. Something that most people could have a feel for, the line gives Marla a relatable foundation paired with her dauntless edge as a character. Following the line, we see the son of one of her victims try to break in to get his mother out.

1 “I’m Not a Lamb. I Am a F*cking Lioness.”

Another important Marla-ism that she repeats throughout the film. It’s like a part of her meditation, how she stays confident and strong within herself and her own capabilities. As morally undesirable as Marla’s character is, she does have charisma with words like these as anyone wishes they could have nearly the amount of confidence she does. Marla actually repeats this line twice or so in the film.

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