Released: 12th January 2024 (UK and US)
Length: 142 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott and Kathryn Hunter
Yorgos Lanthimos is one of the most unique and dynamic indie filmmakers in the industry; his style, use of black comedy and an often bonkers presentation are unlike anything else on the silver screen. Having established his presence with The Lobster and The Favourite, he now turns his attention to the adaptation scene with Poor Things. It’s another fascinating and impeccably produced project.
Based on the 1992 book by Alasdair Gray, the film opens with Dr Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) retrieving and reanimating the body of Victoria Blessington (Emma Stone), transplanting her unborn child’s brain to create a kind of female Frankenstein named Bella Baxter. Bella elopes with the sleazy Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) on a grand voyage, one that will teach her many hard truths about society. Poor Things is very much a journey of self-discovery, bringing to mind the story of Siddhartha from Buddhism. Through travel, interactions and discussion, Bella leaves her wealthy home and learns about the darker side of the world, gradually teasing out greater ideas and self-autonomy. When compared with previous efforts, the title is much bigger in scale and depth. At first it starts with a black and white filter, highlighting the narrow knowledge and childlike nature of its protagonist. Eventually the colour seeps in as Bella makes more of her own decisions. The film makes great efforts to switch between this trip and the exploits of Dr Baxter and his close associate Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) before finally bringing things full circle The climax reveals the circumstances of Victoria’s death and the ultimate choice Bella makes for a dramatic final flourish.
Poor Things features a great mix of comical humour and ludicrous dialogue that always keeps the audience hooked, but it wouldn’t work without excellent central performances. Four main cast members take the lead and they are all equally strong. What makes Emma Stone’s turn so engaging is the way her character learns and matures over time; the odd mix of a child’s mind with an adult body brings a ton of humour and peculiar moments. Tantrums, an awkward inclination to sex and a wacky dance number populate the film’s first act. Her compulsive mannerisms eventually give way to something more thought-provoking, her previous behaviour cast aside. The supporting characters are equally strong; Mark Ruffalo brings a very passive-aggressive approach to Duncan, resulting in many more laughs. Willem Dafoe turns in another brilliant performance as Dr Baxter with plenty of eloquent medical dialogue that always makes you pay attention. Max McCandles is the most ordinary character of the bunch and his straightforward attitude plays off the other actors without issue. Many of the side characters, particularly a travelling pair on-board a cruise ship (played by Jerrod Carmichael and Hanna Schygulla), make their own major contributions to the story over time.
Despite its Victorian-style dialect and scenery, Poor Things leans heavily into a strange, exaggerated dreamscape. The settings of London, Lisbon and Alexandria all possess unique and quirky elements that give off a more fantastical tone. Metallic ships fly through the air, detached horse heads power carriage steam engines and a cruise ship takes on a more narrow shape. When the film bursts into colour, a heavy use of blue and yellow complements the background plates effortlessly. It is certainly the most graphic release of Lanthimos’s filmography with many lustful sex scenes; all of them tie in closely with Bella’s large sensual appetite. When the camera isn’t gracefully following the actors around the sets, we’re often viewing the action through a peephole or a distorted fish eye lens which only amplifies the surreal environments. The music often relies on singular instruments to populate the scenes, intensifying at key moments to emphasise Bella’s biggest discoveries.
Poor Things is another absurd yet utterly captivating flick from Yorgos Lanthimos. In many ways, this production is his most ambitious to date, weaving in many philosophical themes that tie in so perfectly with Bella’s personal journey. This is artistic filmmaking at its finest and any audience looking for something beyond regular blockbusters needs to check it out.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)
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