Poor Things (2023)

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/poor-things-venice-film-festival-review-emma-stone-shines-in-the-best-film-of-the-year-so-far/

"Not only is Poor Things the best movie of the festival, but it's also the best of the year so far, as well as a new personal favorite of Yorgos Lanthimos' career.

A brilliantly thought-provoking, insanely hilarious story packed with substance, focused on a fascinating self-discovery journey filled with thematically rich layers. Astonishing performances from the entire cast, but Emma Stone is truly impressive as an exceptionally expressive force who should win many awards.

A technical masterclass across all filmmaking areas simply puts the icing on top of a near-perfect cake."

Rating: A

When the circumstances of our lives don’t suit us, it’s time to reinvent ourselves – something that happens both literally and metaphorically in this latest offering from director Yorgos Lanthimos. But the way that result comes about here represents a truly inspired fusion of genres, including comedy, romance, social commentary and sci-fi, making for one of the most inventive, unusual and hilarious releases of recent years. This offbeat feminist fable tells the story of how a pregnant, young, anonymous suicide victim (Emma Stone) is reanimated with the aid of a brain transplant from her unborn fetus, an achievement accomplished by a colorful, controversial but well-meaning surgeon/scientist a la Dr. Frankenstein (Willem Dafoe). He nurtures his subject back to life, health and sentience, a sometimes-challenging process that finally surfaces when she discovers sexuality, the trigger for exploring a new, independent life for herself, both physically and emotionally. Through a series of adventures over the course of a trip through Europe with a free-wheeling, lusty but lecherous, self-serving lawyer (Mark Ruffalo), she finds herself as a self-actualized woman in an age where that’s more of a rarity than a standard, particularly in a world where men treat women more like property than people. While the film’s pacing could use some shoring up in the middle, this offering nevertheless entertains with uproarious laughs throughout, even when the narrative turns more thoughtful and substantive. The superb performances by Stone, Dafoe and Ruffalo are top shelf, contributing to the picture’s whopping 13 Critics Choice Award and 7 Golden Globe Award nominations. The film is also visually stunning in its cinematography and editing, as well as in its spectacular and whimsical production design, filled with images reminiscent of the movies of Wes Anderson and Terry Gilliam while sustaining a look all its own. Admittedly, this release features a good deal of explicit sexuality, both visually and in the dialogue, so sensitive viewers should take note. However, as one of the most anticipated pictures of this year’s awards season, “Poor Things” never disappoints, serving up a solid offering that consistently tickles the funny bone while giving audiences much to think about – and there’s nothing poor in any of that.

It's almost as if Yorgos Lanthimos had sat down for a transcendental conversation with James Whale! Student "Max" (Ramy Youssef) is a student recruited by his professor "Godwin" (Willem Dafoe - aka "God") to come and help him work on his latest project. She's called "Bella" (Emma Stone) and it soon transpires that she is the product of some very creative surgery on the part of "God" - a man who has, himself, had one or two experiences under the knife at the hands of his scientist father! You see, a pregnant woman took her own life by jumping from a bridge, but was luckily fished out of the water before her baby died. The surgeon managed to deliver the baby then replace the dead brain of the adult with the one from the nascent infant! Needless to say, "Bella" is on an actively steep learning curve and is quite capable of throwing the odd tantrum to get what she wants - and that is, initially, to go out and explore. Gradually more empowered, and a little more mature, she discovers the delights of the orgasm - and after that there's no stopping her. "God" tries to control her by suggesting a marriage to "Max" but he insists on such a fastidious contract that "Duncan" (Mark Ruffalo) concludes she must be worth investigating. He meets her and offers her her dreams, she convinces "God" to let her go with him and soon she is embarked on a trip around Europe enjoying the frequent delights of "furious jumping"! The always learning woman soon tires of her beau, and realises that she can have loads of fun and earn at the same time - before "God" falls ill and she must return home to not just that life, but surprisingly to the one she thought she had left behind on the bridge. This film is genuinely laugh-out-loud at times, and the performance from Emma Stone has to be her best. She plays the almost porcelain-like and childish "Bella" when we meet her expertly, and that skill prevails as her character evolves into a savvy, street-smart and capable woman who quickly learns to fight fire with fire. Ruffalo is also on super form as her travelling companion and Kathryn Hunter also turns in a solid performance as her Parisian paymaster "Swiney". The narrative takes us on a fantastic tour of European cities, but also on a wonderfully evocative tour of humanity - warts and all. "Bella" has a practical and analytical mind that at times seems ludicrously detached, then somehow she ends up having got it right all along. It might look a bit long at just shy of 2½ hours but it really flies by and I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor billy goat at the end of this creatively interpreted and very well adapted story of what were originally supposed to be Glaswegian hotspots!

**A magnificent, bizarre piece of work**

My fear is that the dismal quality of contemporary commercial cinema—acclaimed by critics and consumers alike, both starved for special effects and vacuity—might drag Poor Things into the generic catch-all of the cinematic intelligentsia. Clearly, this film is not aimed at a mainstream audience oblivious to the artistic concept of the Seventh Art. The intellectual crisis in this field monopolizes theater listings across half the world, while great creators like Yorgos Lanthimos fight to redefine cinema and return it to a long-forgotten Golden Age.

Lanthimos delivers what is perhaps one of the finest films of recent decades. It is a masterpiece with a style so entirely its own, so far removed from what we have been accustomed to lately, that it feels intimidating to talk about it. And yet, thrilling at the same time. But it also brings sadness, because watching Poor Things makes one realize the extent to which true cinema has died at the hands of producers and directors who chase nothing but commercial profit, sidelining any connection to inspiration, skill, or craft.

Poor Things is an ode to beauty and harmony, to surrealism, to fable, and, of course, to expressionism and temperament. You don't need special effects to de-age an actor or to stamp them with a specific personality. You only need imagination, intelligence, inspiration, mastery… and a real actor. In this case, an actress. Because Emma Stone is beyond reproach. I can only recall one other modern directing team capable of writing roles with such sheer talent: the Coen brothers.

To conclude with a reflection that should not be omitted: much has been said about the erotic and explicit nature of certain scenes, but they should by no means be labeled so easily—above all, because there is no intention to arouse the viewer's sexual desire by showcasing objective pleasure. Here, the nudity and overt scenes merely express a type of immaturity and decadence that is a far cry from prurience or sexual excitement. The fact that this ruffles feathers is a glaring example of contemporary artistic and social degradation, of the current ultraconservative drift consuming us which, among other alarming things, conceives any nudity or sexual expression as inherently erotic, completely disregarding the narrative context.

Superb! It's quite the ride!

I don't have the film school-esque analysis to adequately describe all this, so I'll very much leave that to others. What I can note, though, is that I had a great time watching <em>'Poor Things'</em>. It's incredible. I have many a positive, though the main one is obvious: Emma Stone. All I can say is: Bravo! A truly outstanding performance!

Another major, major plus is the music. Wow! Sensational. It's so commanding throughout, blowing me away in what felt like every few minutes... and yet, it never distracts or takes you out from any scene unfolding onscreen. One of the greatest scores I've heard in a very long time. That aside, the visuals are amazing - from the colours to the sets, major props to all those behind the scenes. It all looks exquisite.

Stone isn't alone in impressing, as Willem Dafoe is brilliant too - loved his showing in this, the accent is particularly well fitting. Mark Ruffalo is praiseworthy too, as is everyone else to be honest - e.g. Ramy Youssef and Kathryn Hunter. They all partake in a quite bizarre plot, but one that is absolutely absorbing from beginning to conclusion.

Pre-watch I was somewhat expecting that this was going to be one of those (having not researched anything, as per) overly artsy flicks that I wouldn't connect with, delightfully I was totally wrong. I also felt, when Christopher Abbott's character appears, that the film should've ended earlier, though again I was incorrect because the film simply manages to continue at such a hugh quality.

To wrap it up: I loved it. Credit to all involved.