I never thought they could make a 2 hour movie with Emma Stone in multiple sex scene's this bad, but they did.
This is the film that cinema snobs will describe as a "masterpiece", a "piece of art", etc...
Truth is the cinematography is great, the acting superb but where is the f*cking story? I'm not one for a complex plot or twists but at least make the characters interesting. Even the superb acting all round didn't save this. Everything falls flat even the 'message'. "Heey it's exploring sexuality and women's independence blablabla ". I don't think people need this message in 2023.
If I would summarize this movie in one sentence it's this : Someone really had a fantasy about Emma Stone in 10+ different positions and this movie was it. The only problem is NONE of the scenes felt sexy just gross.
With 'Poor Things', director Yorgos Lanthimos has created a film that has quite a few similarities with the box office hit 'Barbie'. Both are about women who start out as objects without any self-determination and, in the course of a journey, find themselves and discover their freedom. Both films also impress with fantastic costumes, good performances, and, most importantly, a phenomenal production design.
But, while I enjoyed 'Barbie', this Frankenstein story is in a completely different league. Lead actress Emma Stone delivers perhaps the best performance of her career, and Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe are also great here. The absurd humor worked perfectly for me. I haven't laughed more in a movie all year than I did in this one. And ultimately, the world that Lanthimos creates is one that has never been seen before. It's really difficult to create something "new" in film in the 21st century, but that's definitely the case here.
All in all, I not only give "Poor Things" my highest recommendation, but it is also my favorite film of 2023.
I don't know if I'm too dumb to this type of movies, but I thought it was shit. It is esentially a 2-hour-long artsy porn movie of Emma Stone. The plot is meh, the music is at times dissonant and badly balanced, the random scenes with fish lense felt out of character. Acting is ok, because there are some big names involved; and costumes and locations are well put and wimsy; although again, sometimes feels belonging to a different movie. Also, don't quite understood the message behind it: If you are a woman, you have to empower yourself and be a prostitute? and if you are a man, you have to be a simp like Max and let her "fly"? Maybe I'm a oversimplistic person but didn't like it
If you're looking for a cure for horniness then you've found it with this stunningly boring nonsense. Not even Emma Stone can save it.
Amusing but ultimately shallow. The vaguely woke messaging and casting also cast a shadow over our enjoyment of the film.
“I must go punch that baby.”
The first film of the Leeds International Film Festival 2023 (LIFF), and what a strong start!
Poor Things is a humorous, sexy, and Gothic tale that can be philosophically but in the most bizarre ways. There is something so wonderful about the weird, especially in art.
Emma Stone's performance as Bella Baxter was just glorious. It’s also a very “risky” performance because when we first meet her, she is a child in an adult body after being reanimated, with her vocabulary being on the same level as a three-year-old, and her uneven body posture/moments, as if she’s still learning how to move. There is A famous movie saying, “Never go full stupid”, but Stone finds the right balance that prevents it from being embarrassing to watch, which other actors failed at. However, that section is only at the beginning, and as the film progresses through her journey of becoming herself, we see her understanding of language and walking improve significantly.
Bella is a fantastic main character, and she’s easy to care about. We want to see her succeed, and Emma Stone was terrific.
This is the best performance I have seen from Mark Ruffalo, as every time he was on screen, the audience and I were laughing. His character is a loudmouth parody of the ladykiller, who takes Bella under his wing and has her for himself. He chewed up the scenery, and it was astounding. There is a scene in this movie where both Bella and he have a chaotic dance, but the little dance he does on his way to the dance floor, I can't stop thinking about it. It was so funny.
William Dafoe, which should come as no surprise, delivers a superb performance as the monster-looking scientist Godwin Baxter. He is often referred to as 'God' at times, with his patchwork flesh of a face having a distant cross on the right side of his face. He very much plays the role of God, as he does the impossible and gives new life to unfortunate lost souls.
I’m just saying this right now, but the Best Supporting Actor race next year might be the best if nothing ruins it. I hope not. Imagine this: Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer, Ryan Gosling for Barbie, Robert De Niro for Killers of the Flower Moon, and Ruffalo & Dafoe for Poor Things.
Everything on a technical level, such as cinematography, the score, costumes, and the production design - all extraordinary and benefited in bringing this world alive. The whole movie feels otherworldly and timeless.
What I find compelling about director Yorgos Lanthimos is that if you examine his movies, the stories in his movies are simple. The Lobster is about fulfilling societal norms we feel we need to follow, such as getting a job, applying to a college and university, being with a romantic partner, having kids, having interests, and eventually dying. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a horror revenge tale where a family gets cursed after the fathers' wrongdoings. The Favourite is a period piece drama/comedy about two reveals who try to win the love of a bipolar queen.
Poor Things is a fresh re-imaging of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (also based on a novel by Scottish author Alasdair Gray), remodeled as a coming-of-age story told through a female perspective. The needs, the wants, the issues, and losing our inner child in this demanding world. Unique and isn't afraid to approach sexuality so openly.
At the start, the character of Bella has the mind of a child while having an adult body but is not restricted and not insecure about things. She can be loud, messy, playful, and expressive in emotions. Especially when it comes to sexuality, hence the openness to it. Like, there's nothing wrong with something that everyone does, but we don't talk about it. As we get older and more exposed to the world, we get quieter, speak less, get insecure about things, care too much about what others may say/think, and become closeted. That is one angle of the film that I found incredibly compelling.
But the execution is wild. I do not buy for one second that it’s strange for the sake of it. It leans more into steampunk absurdism. Yorgos Lanthimos presents the events as they are without questioning them, as the surface level normality peeled back, and focuses on the strange happenings in life and people. He's one of the most unique voices in cinema, not only for what he has to say but what he must show and how to show it.
The only issue I had with the film was towards the end when it started to get a bit preachy, going as far as hitting you on the head with it, and I was thinking, "Alright, I get it."
Other than that, the film was excellent and one of the most unique and memorable experiences I had this year. Even if this is Yorgos Lanthimos's most accessible film so far, it may still be too much for some, but even with its peculiar nature, you will find it impossible to take your eyes off the screen.
This movie absolutely SUCKED. I tried 4x to watch it. All it is a more perverse Edward Scissorhands and they sure as hell didn't give that Best Picture.
0 but it won't let you give a 0.
The movie is a bit too artistic to my taste. The only thing (superb) is the stunning body of Emma Stone. Acting performances by Emma and Mark Ruffalo are great as well, but overal it's just a little bit too much Frankenstein-meets-Shakespeare for me.
I'll stick with a "7" out of 10, but only because I had a game on my laptop nearby to keep me entertained while watching this slow and artistic movie.
A marvel of unpredictability.
Modern cinema is largely rehashed plot elements and garish special effects.
This film is a welcome change to that formula and does a wonderful job of blending a vivid and unpredictable plot with beautiful and captivating scenes and camera work.
Mahmoud discover happy when he want. Watch Emma Stone.
This movie can be explained in one word. WTF
I had high expectations, but clearly I had the wrong ones, because I was disappointed by the overall movie. The actors on their own give stellar performances, but I guess it just wasn't the story I thought it was gonna be.
Cannot help but feel this would have been a great serial but as a film its duration simply was at the same time too little and too much, too little story, but with too much promise. A rich tapestry maybe, with fantastical imagery yet one feels it strikes narrative notes to create a cacophony. It needed both more depth and more time. Still it was pleasant to view and its vision was very bold. I watched it in segments as arranged internally by its chapters, and going away and coming back to it gave it more welcoming experience. Maybe I was overwhelmed.
This movie looks fantastic first of all.
Second of all, the narration around trust and naivety was amazing.
Fantastic work of art.
Intriguing story of a woman becoming.
And “I must go punch that baby” is one of the best things I have heard in a while. I will want to use it.
The essence of this movie is the prototypical bildungsroman - a young woman's coming of age story in a fantastic, absurdist, surreal setting. Despite it's uniqueness, the film doesn't transcend never transcends basic tropes of the genre, which holds it back from s higher score.
7.5/10
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Poor Things’:
What a delightfully odd film. From the music to the visuals to the costumes to the directing, this was quite the quirky journey I didn’t expect — but enjoyed! Those “fishbowl” shots were definitely an interesting approach.
It was VERY “Tim Burton” but with a touch of something new, and obviously a bit more mature. This story could most certainly exist in his universe.
Emma Stone. This feels like SUCH a departure from the stuff I’ve seen her in. What a bold performance. And I thought her comedic timing was fantastic. Very much deserving of her Oscar.
If you are not careful, this beautifully made and amazing film will distract you from what it is saying about cruelty, about love, and about the lives we live. If you let that happen, you may want to watch it again.
Great example of a highly polished turd of a film
So many people are so amazed by the polish here they fail to recognize this movie is just plain stupid.
Gross, not interesting, revolves too much around sex
The overall story of Bella I like, but the storytelling of it to get from beginning to end does drag on. Costumes were amazing, the scenes and colors great.
Good acting
Weird movie. Not for me.
Characters 7/10
Story 4/10
Pacing 5/10
Visuals 7/10
Rewatchability Factor 1/10
Enjoyment or Emotional Value 3/10
Average Score 4.5/10
The only reason this movie wasn't a perfect 10 is because it made me DEEPLY uncomfortable. This is intentional, but makes it hard for me to rate a perfect 10 because at times I was so uncomfortable I wasn't able to enjoy my watch time. That being said, this film was stunning. The story was unique and unhinged, the cinematography was entrancing, and Emma Stone gave the best performance of her career thus far (she deserved the Oscar hands down and had she not won I would have rioted). I do truly believe it is best to go into this one completely blind so I won't be going into the specifics of the plot, but if you are a Frankenstein fan and/or have a strong investment in the growth and success of women, this movie is for you.
Such a unique and entertaining movie in an age of cardboard blockbusters. Emma Stone deserves all the awards for her acting here. The soundtrack, the settings, the costume design... Everything had a purpose. Definitely worthy of its praise and awards.
I weep at the lack of media literacy in these here comments but I will not let that ruin the 24-hour high I've been experiencing since seeing this absolute masterpiece.
Literally the kind of movie that makes me grateful to have been alive to see it.
Very disturbing, unpleasant to watch movie in many aspects of it. Even naked & having sex Emma Stone is mostly repulsive. Couldn't watch it through. The whole thing looks like some typical cheap arthouse porn.
I just feel like this is very well directed, well written, and well crafted! I love the actors and the story so much. I can't take my eyes off any sequence shown in this film. Congratulations to the whole team!
Aside from the visuals and some of the performances, I didn’t enjoy the film. The story did not pull at my interest and was slow moving.
Victorian. Gothic. Renaissance. Steampunk. Surrealism. Absolutely love the amalgamation of eras and cultural/artistic trends here, and it's fortunate that the production value is as sky high as it is, because otherwise this would've been a catastrophe. Even a good mix of various philosophies, and it's great that the story doesn't dwell too much on any of it, doesn't try to shove any particular one down the viewer's throat, and instead lets us take what we want from it all.
Kind of a pity that not half an hour into it, most of it gets sucked into the black hole that is sex, and then just... mostly revolves around that. Could've been a lot more substance, but still. The dialogues are funny in their rawness, there's a few occasional sharp critique here and there... And if nothing else, eventually we're left with quite a lot crammed into 2+ hours of entertainment - if not more, certainly different than most movies these days.
Considering everything else in the movie, I do sincerely hope that tobacco warning at the beginning was meant to be some kinda weird joke though.
Superb. Funny, quirky, odd, interesting, entertaining - and even though it's long it never gets bogged down at any point.
Every actor played their part perfectly.
10/10
Whoa - what a WACKY movie! While watching this, I kept trying to identify the different media that was thrown into the blender for this one... I'd say it's Frankenstein (obviously), with some Dr. Seuss, a little Tim Burton mixed in with Willy Wonka plus some scenery out of the game Bioshock. Then, add some camera magic tricks from Hitchcock and fashion from Grace Jones after she watched the new Barbie movie while smoking some 60s weed. Mix all that up, and then throw in a few porno movies.
There were numerous times of complete WTF questions, some real laugh out loud moments, and times of being blown away by the strange cameras and shooting procedures used. Some of the visuals and architecture were amazing. The ending was quite enjoyable - I predicted two outcomes, and the more comedic one was written.
I restarted the movie after watching just to see the beginning again quickly. I LoL'd when I saw the warning pre-credits that the movie would contain tobacco depiction. THAT'S what they're going to warn us about?
This is a definite watch - just make sure the kids are at grandmas or something before starting this one... Even if they are teenagers. ;-)
Poor Things is notable for its formidable performance by Emma Stone, who shines in her role and takes the film to new heights with her talent and screen presence. Rarely have we had such a clear shot at an Oscar. The film's originality is also remarkable, especially in the way it is shot with fisheye footage, an intriguing technique that manages to grab the viewer and hold their attention throughout the story.
Another highlight of Poor Things is its impressive visual design. The use of colour and sets creates a unique atmosphere that oscillates between theatre and classic cinema, offering a visually beautiful experience that perfectly complements the narrative. In addition, the film's costumes are gorgeous, adding another level of detail and authenticity to the production.
However, despite its many strengths, some critics may find that the film suffers from excessive length and slow pacing at certain points. This lack of pace can make the film feel ponderous and make it difficult to maintain viewer interest throughout its duration.
In terms of production quality is where Poor Things takes the cake. It is flawless in every aspect. From the direction to the cinematography to the production design, every element contributes to creating a film that is a work of art in itself.
Great movie very odd and offbeat in so many good ways. such adventurous character acting. a little like Grand Budapest Hotel in the same quirky ways. certainly worth a view and so much better than the diarrhoea juice that is currently being leaked onto the movie scene at the moment
"Poor Things" stands out as the pinnacle of Lanthimos' admittedly short filmmaking career so far, already establishing itself as an instant classic. It's darkly humorous, whimsically bizarre, unassuming, and sincere, brimming with elements to cherish. Attempting to fully dissect its richness here seems inadequate in light of the film's ambitious scope.
a pure masterpiece, CINEMA is alive! Yorgos is a geniusss
THIS IS THE SHITTIEST MOVIE. Cannot believe this garbage was nominated, let alone won, any Oscars.
Fifteen minutes in and I was disgusted already. A great cast, kinda cool cinematography, but clearly a shitty stpryline that makes a very sorry attempt to look profound...a NEON sign it won't be.
HTF Stone won the Oscar for best actor for this tripe is beyond me, especially with movies like Oppenheimer and Flowers to compete.
Don't waste you time unless you like being spoon fed the surreal which ironically goes against the whole idea of surreal at in the first place.
I'd give it a 0 if it let me. 0.5 out of 10 at best.
It's really hard to make a bad movie with Emma Stone naked for half the film. But, wow, here we are.
It is true that Emma is a good actress (however she is a shitty character with dubious ethics), the production design, costumes and cinematography are great. But that's all, an empty shell as one of the quirky characters says.
No, it is not an smart or surreal film. The brief message (repeated once again at the end, in case you are stupid) is interspersed with long porn scenes that do not provoke in the sense it is intended. It's a terrible movie, but I guess it's hard to admit the truth and instead it will win all the independent film awards.
I feel like if I’m looking at this movie like a directors canvas, watching them imaginatively fill the spaces with whatever whimsy and creation their imagination can come up with, this movie is a work of art.
However, stepping outside of that, once the pastel skies lose their novelty and the JRPG-like towns start to all look the same, I’m left with a movie that I really didn’t find all that engaging and the story fairly unsatisfying. I looove Emma Stone and good for her for the Oscar win, but I didn’t really find her character all that layered and honestly felt like I spent two hours watching an adult toddler have a “coming of age” journey into a humanoid chatGPT wind up toy.
Reading some of the discourse, and I don’t know if I care to make a decision on whether this is some impactful feminist take on bodily autonomy or some lackluster cheap “edgy” plot where lady born yesterday discovers the power and lack there of regarding sex - but I feel like even Von Triers Nymphomaniac had more nuanced conversations around “hard jumping.”
All in all, maybe if you’re like me and watching this movie after the Oscar’s hype and general fanfare, you’ll end up disappointed too. But I think if you’re the kind of person who enjoys style over substance (which is perfectly fine) then there will be a lot to enjoy about this movie. Picture Willy wonkas chocolate factory except it’s a brothel and all the candy is covered in pubes.
Good movie definitely recommend watching high if you would like, but not really for me.
i was expecting to like it so much more, but it ended up being so disturbing. i mean, it's bizarre but in a bad way. the fact she is having this sexual relations with grown ass men, while still being a girl mentally... creepy. and, i may be wrong, but they tried to sell prostitution as a way to achieve women emancipation when it is absolutely not. the costumes, art direction and acting were outstanding.
I must say it is very hard for me to rate this film. The visuals are stunning, the acting is phenomenal, the story intriguing and bizarre. This vision of cinematography would have probably received a full 10 star is if wasn't for the many, many times I asked myself what the $@&! did I just watch.
It seems that now they have to write films as strange as possible to bring people to the cinema. Lantimos is no exception, with this work of his that terribly shakes the consciences of conventional wisdom and emphasizes both human brutality and the capacity for compassion. Frankly, I know both very well, and this film didn't give me any further insights. I'll leave the 3 stars for the monumental interpretation of Emma Stone, a well-deserved Oscar.
Poor Things! Damn!
What a thrill!
It seems to Barbie's Jeff Koons feminism as I felt that The Zone Of Interest was to Oppenheimer... one no more than a war movie (at best), the other war art.
Lanthimos' and Stone's gifts are truly otherworldly.
Definitely the weirdest movies in terms of visuals and the plot. Couldn’t even judge the Oscar worthy acting very well because of how strange the plot was. I really don’t know what the point of the movie was cause if it was women empowerment then it was terribly executed. Like whose idea was to have a bunch of sex scenes with a kid in a woman’s body. The movie made me feel nothing except for cringe, don’t know if it was even trying to be funny or emotional.
I get the point. Emma Stone was great. But have to say, it was awful. Apparently you love it or hate it. Alice in wonderlandesque. Dreadful.
I really loved this movie. Which surprised me because I expected to not like it. But I really did enjoy it.
The acting was really great. Emma Stone and William Defoe blew it out the water. She definitely deserved that Oscar.
The effects were interesting. I did enjoy the contrasts from black/white to vibrant color. I thought it was impressively well done.
The sex scenes were plentiful but they played a part in the plot. It wasn’t gratuitous. Well, maybe someone can argue it was at least a bit. But it was definitely a plot piece. And probably some social commentary but I just want to use movies as an escapism, so read another review for that.
All in all, a brilliant movie. Fantastic performances. Impressive. If you’re not a minor and not ashamed of the human body/natural impulses, give it a go.
Emma Stone deserved her Oscar for this bizarre but riveting movie.
How can all these critics ignore the fact that this movie depicts a child in a woman's body having sex with older men?!
Extremely boring and its just porn basically.
With all that knowledge how come she didn't put God's brain in the general? It would have been the perfect ending.
Great movie though.
A little over-long? Perhaps. Self-indulgent? Absolutely. But (as it would seem is customary for Lanthimos) it is weird, thoughtful, visually inventive and - most importantly - the product of a singular vision. The movie contains a lot of sex and sexual themes but I didn't feel it was a sexy film - it was more a film of ideas, principally about love and obsession. I personally think his vision of humanity is rather darker than my own, but it took me on a terrifically entertaining (and often hilarious) trip. Mark Ruffalo's acting was (deliberately) absurd and a little too mannered for me, but Emma Stone was note-perfect and worth the price of admission alone. I was I admit startled that a movie with such adult content (but not actually pornographic) could have been such a mainstream as well as popular success. I have to imagine word of mouth kept theatres filled, and word of mouth was right.
Want to watch something artistic with your family in a feel good atmosphere. Well then watch the "Wonka" musical and enjoy how it burns away all provokative aspects that made the previous movies so awesome.
The movie "Poor Things", is not for the faint hearted harmony loving care-bears out there. It is dark, raw, grotesk, weird, rude, noisy and very perverted. The director did a great job in making you feel as uncomfortable as possible while watching. A must watch for people with style.
Really weird movie to start with, but have patience and stick with it, it gets a lot better.
Two points subtracted for being one of those egotistical directors who forces us to watch with two black bars on the side of our TV's.
I went into this movie with absolutely no idea what to expect. If you had me guess 100 different things I was about to watch, I am not sure I would have even been remotely close. It was awkward, quirky, often overly cheesy, but also graphic and batshit crazy! I thoroughly enjoyed what I watched, but how this was greenlit and got the cast it did I will never know.
Rating: 3.5/5 - 80% - Would Recommend
Poor Things is an absolute triumph of storytelling that left me utterly enchanted. Emma Stone delivers a tour de force performance as Bella Baxter, imbuing her character with depth, humor, and heart. Mark Ruffalo's portrayal of Dr. Archibald Baxter is equally mesmerizing, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
Very good performances, charming set design and beautiful cinematography, but I can't get over the plot. They tell the story of the sexual awakening of a woman with the mind of a child.
what the heck did i just watch !!
Master piece surreal and visual!!
Master piece surreal and visual!!
This film should be seen knowing a few things beforehand: first, it is a Lanthimos film, second, it is a film that relies on surreal fantasy and black humor. With this in mind, the film stands out especially for its artistic section, and also for the performances of its actors. As for the story itself, it is somewhat weak in my opinion, although the social criticism and character study are quite solid.
An interesting film as an artistic study and a study of the evolution of the human mind and morality in society, taking the form of a gothic tale. The second half is much better than the first, with several interesting points.
I can understand why critics are loving this movie, but I am a bit surprised that its audience scores are almost equally high. I guess it's more digestible than some of Lanthimos other films, but it still feels more arthouse than your typical best picture nominee. But maybe I'm just underselling the appeal of watching Emma Stone's explicit adventure of uninhibited sexual discovery. But, while that element of the movie certainly appeals to some of my baser instincts, I was never fully on board with the rest of it. It just feels like some of the decisions are trying to inject weird for weirdness sake, rather than tying it to any sort of character/story motivation. It's that feeling of an online video that is trying too hard to go viral. In terms of pacing, the final act (or at least everything from the interrupted wedding onward) felt rushed. Now, with all of that said, I still enjoyed the movie. There were lots of interesting characters and ideas being explored and, despite feeling intentional/manufactured, some of the quirky humor still lands.
Feminism in Surrealistic World
Imagine Alice in Wonderland meets The Story of O with neo feministic philosophy spreaded heavily throughout the film.
[8.6/10] A movie to recoil from, and to bask in.
Poor Things is a movie to recoil from because it is a story of abuse. The mere creation of Bella Baxter -- the movie’s wondrous, improbable protagonist -- is an act of abuse. Her erstwhile father, Godwin (cheekily referred to as “God” by his creation) implants the mind of a fetus into the mind of the poor child’s own suicidal mother, in a monstrous act. Even as he cannot help but develop paternal affection for young Bella, he keeps her locked away, attempts to marries her off to his assistant despite her immature mind, and treats as much like an experiment as an offspring.
Bella’s treatment at the hands of her own creator and surrogate father is abhorrent, and not for nothing, he’s probably the person who loves and respects her the most, which really sets the tone for the film.
Because things don’t stop there. A cad named Duncan Wedderburn (played with maximalist lunacy by a scenery-chewing Mark Ruffalo) spirits her away, rapes her, and keeps her like a pet in a jag and jaunt across the continent not unlike that of Humbert Humbert. Her attempts to break free are met with more control, anger, and even violence. Even friends, intent on showing her the world, do so with an intent to break her spirit. The madame at the brothel where she seizes her own “means of production” gives her a lifeline, but exerts her own brand of manipulation and assault.
And the piece de resistance of the film’s unconscionable abusers is Bella’s quasi ex-husband, quasi-father, who takes joy in cruelly, threatens her with firearms, plans to surgically remove her ability to enjoy sex, and accounts for, in his own twisted way, why Bella’s mother would rather leave this cruel world than bring her abuser’s child into it.
It is no coincidence that these controlling trespassers are almost exclusively men. Even the kinder ones, like Godwin’s more availing and understanding assistant, Max McCandles, takes advantage of Bella when she’s in an immature state and unable to consent, desiring the physical and ignoring the mental.
And it’s no coincidence that those who empower Bella, who teach her philosophy and politics and self-possession, are women. From Martha, the aging European cruiser who shows Bella theory; to fellow french prostitute Toinette who helps Bella see the confluence of politics and economics that give her a context and identify the scars that clue her into the past; to even Swiney, the madame who takes her cut but gives Bella perspective, those who lift Bella up share her gender.
In that, Poor Things is a peculiar sibling of fellow 2023 release Barbie, and a raunchier cousin of 2013’s Under the Skin in its equally off-kilter examination of what it is to be a woman, the projections and invasions of their male counterparts, and the abuse that must be endured simply for existing in this state. For all its outsized grandeur, Poor Things is startlingly frank in its depiction of many of these things, and it’s easy to flinch in its barest moments.
It’s also easy to flinch because Poor Things is a thoroughly gross movie. Gross because, being a modern day Frankenstein tale of surgeons and their subjects, it is riddled with scars, blood, and scattered organs. Gross because time and again the viewer must watch a person with the body of an adult but the mind of a child be taken advantage of sexually. Gross because it doesn’t shy away from the awkwardness and multitudinal expressions of sex in a way that is both affirming and repulsive in its peculiar way. This is not a movie for the squeamish, either physically or emotionally.
And yet, despite all of that, there is more than enough to bask in here.For one thing, Poor Things is a beautiful film. The cinematography evolves as Bella does, starting with ornate stage play sets in black and white, blossoming into gorgeous impressionistic settings in technicolor splendor, and eventually reaching a still exaggerated but ultimately more realistic presentation as Bella’s more mature view of the world comes into focus. The way the aesthetic mirrors the main character’s growth and understanding is both visually stunning and a masterful blend of vision and theme.
And the imagery works on its own terms. Director Yorgos Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan craft an iconography that is worth the price of admission on its own. The style of Poor Things blends the larger-than-life expressionism of Fritz Land, with the misfits in a toybox world sensibilities of Tim Burton, with the liminal oddity of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and the twee dioramas populated with broken souls of Wes Anderson. The production design and makeup and costuming, for Bella in particular, invite you into this particular, peculiarly-crafted world with its characters who are no less distinctive in look than in personality. In terms of pure style, pure vibes, pure feel, Poor Things is an experience all its own.
It is also blackly funny. Part of what cuts the grimness of the film’s subject matter is that laughs abound, in the dark absurdity of Bella’s various predicaments, of her matter-of-fact ways over around and through them, and in the almost slapstick-y moments of physical comedy that blend the sublime and the ridiculous. Even in its bleakest stretches, Poor Things carries an arch tone that helps the medicine go down.
It doesn’t hurt that this is one of the most quotable films of the season. In the script penned by Tony McNamara, Bella has a Vonnegut-esque way of identifying the absurdity of human existence by simply stating it plainly. There is a “from the mouths of babes” quality to her comments, driving incisive critique though blithely stating the obvious in a way that upsets polite society. Her matter-of-fact comments are often uproarious, from her agahstness at a new friend’s coital interregnum, to the aforementioned affirmation of a sex worker’s yonic take on Marxism, to Bella’s simple declaration that she need not keep chewing something that revolts her.
But that is the cinch of the film, because as much as Poor Things centers on the abusive and revolting, as much as it offers treats in the form of splendorous images and witty lines, it is ultimately a story of self-actualization. Star Emma Stone sells Bella’s journey from a developmentally challenged child who is misdirected and taken advantage of by all those who wish to extract her gifts for their pleasures, to a questioning young soul finding themselves and discovering their wants, to a worldly and experienced operator who is blunt in her assessments but no less direct or effective at reaching her desires, finally subject and not object.
That is the true focus of the film: what it is to grow-up, what it is to come into your own, what it is to become a person, with all the dangers and messiness and reckonings that entails, but in the right hands and the right company, what joys and solace it may bring as well. (Again, making it a funhouse mirror version of fellow Best Picture nominee Barbie.) Swiney tells Bella that we must experience the good and the bad, to have a full sense of the world, to know, to grow, and become. And in the end, Bella does.
Through all of her adventures, she comes out a battered but fully-formed, self-possessed individual, marked by experiences but also fortified by them. She abandons one abuser in good faith and then rejects and repels him when he blames her for all his self-made problems. She neutralizes her original abuser of sorts and turns him into an erstwhile pet for good measure. She brings her friends close, and finds a partner who is more understanding and forgiving.
Most of all, she breaks the cycle. What makes a man capable of the unfathomable acts Godwin commits sympathetic is that, as he recounts his own childhood of cruel experiments done dispassionately, you see the way he is merely perpetuating his own abuse, albeit with genuine affection breaking through for Bella. When Bella comes into her power, she does not forgive Godwin exactly, but she makes peace with him on his slow road to death. He committed the original sin of violation, lied to her, kept her, but is also the one who recognized her as a being of free will, and perhaps even one who provoked love through his futile attempts at detachment.
Ultimately, she follows in his footsteps, becoming a surgeon herself and stepping into his shoes. She spends much of the film bristling against the shackles of a system, finding the words to question it, and then building her own little oasis apart from it. There is great horror in the core of Poor Things, in its frank depiction of cruelty and craven use of another body and soul. But it is also a story of an ungodly creation who, through experiencing life’s offerings both harsh and wondrous, eventually supplants the man who sewed her together, and becomes her own creator.
I enjoyed this film a lot. The story is very unique and the art style is just breathtakingly beautiful. Also great score and brilliantly acted as well.
I so wanted to love this movie. And for a while, I did. After all, there is a very worthwhile message in the movie, and Emma Stone gives the performance of a lifetime (side note: every time someone gives a performance like this, I can't help but remember that Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for playing a sassy housewife in The Blind Side, and I throw up a little in my mouth). And Willem Dafoe is, of course, fantastic. It just became a slog to get through after the midway point. It was as if Wes Anderson re-made Bride of Frankenstein. That said, it was beautiful to look at.
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I can't help but feel this movie is for snobs who get off on "you missed the point" comments as they sit on their high horse.
I'm not saying that's how it is... I'm saying that that's how it feels like to me when I read praise of this movie.
Well enough said really... I think it's terrible. I felt like I'd have a good time with this movie if I was still 15...that's the emotional maturity this movie seems to have.
4/10.
Genuinely disturbing like all Yorgos Lanthimos movies. Bizzare and weirdly unsettling. I love weird but not the creepy type that throws sex at you every ten seconds. Yes, it was mediorcely realistic, but It lost all meaning in this beautifully twisted world building. The sounds, acting, script, and sight all intertwine so well. The 2 hours and 21 mins were far too long, though. I can usually withstand it, but my interest halfway through just wanted to hide. I'm sure it was purposely done, but it doesn't work, for me at least. The acting and cinematography was probably the best part of this.
Whimsically unsettling. In a good way.
I want to love this movie. I want it to be successful. I never want to watch it again.
Plot: The plot has it's merits but is quickly lost on the viewer as the story progresses. It's only again mentioned in spurts and towards the end.
Visuals: Stunning. Colorful. Confusing. It's almost anachronistic. You don't quite know what timeline you are in but it doesn't matter because it, in and of itself, is fun to see.
Acting: Emma Stone's performance is top tier in this film. She essentially plays three different roles in the span of the film. Plenty of sensible chuckles throughout. As far as the performances go, I have no complaints.
Conclusion: After the film ended, and we endured nearly two hours of sex scenes, archaic surgical procedures and a pig-headed chicken... I said to myself "what in the actual F * * K did I just watch?" It was not what I hoped it would be, but it wasn't terrible. It was good, but very weird. This is one of those films where the previews were probably the best part of the film because the rest of it cannot be shown on television.
"Poor Things" reminds us, that there's still old school cinema that can provoke us. It deprives us of all the generic BS that Hollywood gives us lately telling us a great story with stunning visuals, and of course a superb acting by Emma Stone. Bravo!
The mind of God in the General's body; seems like a missed opportunity. Of course, they avoided that to keep with the tone of the story.
It was great.
Visually stunning, but there's too many filler scenes I find. It could've been shorter.
Sorry, I could not watch 1 minute of this movie. It is simply repellent to me. Fans: Go and enjoy it!
This film was actually quite difficult for me to watch as a person with a neurodevelopmental disorder, despite Bella being a completely fictional and impossible concept, because the way Bella experiences the world, thought processes, her own emotions, and the emotions of others is at times a very accurate reflection of how many people with some types of neurodevelopmental disorders experience them. It’s kinda rough to see yourself in a character like that when the character is constantly being taken advantage of in their naivety and disability.
On top of that, her (literal) childlike innocence and curiosity is very strongly sexualized which makes me uncomfortable because while she’s obviously free to explore her sexuality, she is very easy to manipulate and sexually assault without her knowing it’s even happening, which is a very common occurrence for people with a neurodevelopmental disorder. And while, once again, I do recognize this is a completely different and fictional concept, it is so incredibly reminiscent of the daily abuse mentally and/or neurologically disabled people face, that it was very hard for me to sit through.
I also realize that this is a very personal experience and if you don’t relate to Bella in that way, it’s likely a lot easier to appreciate it for its beautiful cinematography and costume design, which is why I’m still rating it high for a film that made me uncomfortable for half of it.
Great ideas and well performed. The direction is a bit chaotic and so is the beginning of the story but it gets better. Awesome writing as well
I must go punch that baby
Overflowing with macabre whimsy that only Lanthimos can orchestrate, Poor Things is darkly witty and more than a bit existential. I've seen it thrown around by a few comments but I'll reiterate it here: this really is Barbie done right; twisted and dark but with far more nuance to the same themes of female autonomy, maturity and sexual liberation, as well as gender division, class structures and social acceptance. It manages to cover all these heavy topics while still being one of the most funny, kinetic and slapstick-heavy movies I've seen for a long time. Add on its twisted dollhouse aesthetic and hazy diorama framing that is simply wonderful to look at, it's hard to call this anything but a masterpiece.
Very interesting proposal that exemplifies the male violence that exists over women. It can be seen how the protagonist is very desirable to men when she is "mentally infantile", and becomes despicable to them when she gains consciousness and dominates her free will. I also liked her journey through prostitution, and the evolution of her perspective on it. Progressively, you see how those "poor creatures" are in reallity those men.
Poor Things - :heart:x8
This is definitely not a movie for everyone. It was a very interesting movie and beautiful. The sets and cinematography were absolutely gorgeous, great performances and interesting character development. And the musical score was quite haunting. Perhaps the most interesting/disturbing thing in this movie is seeing The Hulk in this setting - lol.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
I've never been much for steampunk fantasy aesthetics but it sorta works here except where it doesn't and looks like some less inspiring edition of Heavy Metal anno 1991. The plentiful selection of fisheye lenses becomes kinda overbearing artsy experimental film school tiresome half way in until you accept it and ignore it. The story itself is engaging and interesting from the protagonist's perspective, from childlike girl to girl-child in self discovery to a nubile male sexual fantasy to an independent sexual contractor that owns her means of production and then some post-sexual intellectual conquest of her libido towards the end. Despite the idealism, I stay clear from making it political from a feminist perspective and likewise from the lingering socialism agitprop of which I may agree with both but still decide to keep as referential entertainment rather than an educational statement. As far as I can tell, everybody did a bang on job what they set out to do. It's mostly the final act and the finale that brings it down for myself. After an hour and a half roller coaster ride, the last act is expected but feels uninspired and is there by necessity to choose the arc, not to mention the interesting side lines that are seemingly dropped for a quick and clean finale. Watching it I felt like this started off from a seven and rose to a nine, then it dropped to a seven bordering to a six, and now that it has settled I think an eight minus sounds fair because hey, it's still a damn good ride.
This is one of the better movies I have seen in a very long time. A refreshing take on the idea of Frankenstein…. This movie confirms that the more we are developed, enlightened and engaged the more complicated, depressing and a let down life is. The trials and tribulations of Bella as she develops from infancy in front of our eyes…. An eye opener for the viewer……. A great watch…. A must watch.
A young woman in search of happiness in a cruel world, surrounded by a baroque, exuberant staging of saturated colors. Lanthimos offers a bizarre tale from Belle's point of view, shown through fish-eye lenses in settings inhabited by those who subdue and those who are subdued. And despite that, it is a fascinating story of female liberation, where the man becomes infantilized as she matures, driven by satirical humor. It is a complex film that possibly manages to be more incisive than others by the director in the representation of power dynamics.
I get all of the undertones that the film is presenting. It almost felt too obvious at times. I get that the acting is supposed to be great, even if I thought that Emma Stone was terrible playing the "child" version of the character at the very beginning. I did enjoy some of the dark humor. But the steampunk/Wes Anderson style didn't do anything for me and never has.
Not to get into pun territory here but this was a little too "high art" for my tastes. However, about half way through I said to my girlfriend (who did find the film interesting) "ya know, the weed just hit in a way that made this movie tolerable." So there's that...
My Ratings
10 - I love it, regardless of quality
9 - Very good, might not love but very well done or might love, forgiving some issues
8 - Very enjoyable or Just OK for me but well done
7 - Good
6 - Watchable despite not liking the film/show
5 - Mid
3-4 - Not great, but got through it
1-2 - Very bad/You might be a communist if you like this garbage
People in the future are going to study this movie as an example of how much things have gone wrong in our time.
"We can see the theme of the movie encapsulates the societal norms of the time, in short, "it is never too soon to be a whore". We see Bella, a preschool girl in a grown up body, endlessly indulging in the pleasures of the flesh, free of all moral limitations and shielded from all real world consequences by the feeble and innocents minds of the naive writers".
Bella Baxter, our Prometheia with a touch of Alia Atreides.
Such a stylized movie. Emma Stone did great, as did Mark Ruffalo.
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 'Poor Things'. 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.
Very Yorgos, he’s still flipping the rules of society on its head. Compared to his other films this one’s more focussed on sex and femininity, it’s almost like Barbie with a high arts degree. The plot even has this similar ‘discovering the horrors of the real world’ element to it, but with Lanthimos at the helm this obviously goes to more challenging, boundary pushing places than Barbie ever could. For me this is easily the funniest film of 2023, there are so many incredible zingers and moments of physical comedy that contrast very well with the dark subject matter. Its sense of humour is complemented by sharp editing and some exceptional performances. I’ve been critical of some of Ruffalo’s acting in the past (his MCU work tends to feel really phoned in to me), however this time he turns in some of his best work. Emma Stone, stripped from most of her natural charisma here, continuously finds ways to make you laugh through a look, the cadence in her voice or her posture. Bella’s arc throughout this film is massive and every beat felt earned to me. Visually I found this extremely inspired; the sets are so detailed, colourful and contain references to filmmakers such as Fritz Lang, Tim Burton and Wes Anderson. Stanley Kubrick is another filmmaker that keeps popping up as an influence throughout Yorgos’ filmography, and that’s no different here. The fish eye lenses, which to me stood out a little awkwardly during The Favourite, completely work for the wacky, fantastical world that Poor Things presents to us. The score still contains that off-kilter, oblique sound from Lanthimos’ previous work, but the instrumentation is much more distinct and unique this time around. Overall, it’s just a very complete, well realized vision that builds and even improves on the style of the filmmaker. Can’t wait to see where he goes next.
9/10
I'm a fan of Yorgos Lanthimos, especially "Dogtooth." I also like Wes Anderson's fantasy movies, but "Poor Things" didn't quite click for me. Despite its impressive acting and visuals, I found its story too complicated and focused more on style than substance. Plus, it felt too long, and its attempt at deep philosophy seemed to miss the mark.
Amazing movie. Emma is simply flawless
Wow...
After a long time, a movie that felt good
This Movie blew my mind..
The utter definition of CINEMA...
I can only say Wow...
Just WOW...
A masterpiece.. Each screenshot could be a painting
I'm not sure whether the character was written with her in mind, or not. But. This is peak Emma Stone.
I didn't like the movie. It looked and sounded great with beautiful costumes and settings, and the story and characters were interesting. But the plot was boring, like other stories about someone discovering society. It talked about socialism and worker unions, but not in detail. Even when it talked about prostitution, it didn't say much. Overall, it felt like the writers didn't try hard enough. It's not worth watching because it doesn't say anything meaningful about the topics it brings up.
I could say that it is a very psychological film, obviously it is not for everyone,... I can't say that I liked it but I don't dislike it either, it's difficult to explain, I could say that it is a strange film.
Pinocchio meets Jolene meets Frankenstein, with an absolutely satisfying ending, middle, and beginning.
It's as if Anderson, Kubrick and Burton (with a little bit of Tarantino) all were inspired by a Mary Shelly novel.
Thus, it transports you into a fantastical world with all these elements at play.
An amazing achievement in cinema!
Wow, just wow! It took a few attempts to get through this movie. I just stopped watching at annoying She was in the Black and White scenes (screaming and not making sense the entire time). Then I read the reviews and tried again, but even the amazing graphics, mind provoking ideas, and good acting from Mark couldn’t get me to watch it in 1 sitting.
Emma Stone’s character was so irritatingly annoying, the movie itself was crude just for crude sake, and the writing was just trying too hard.
Honestly, had they toned down everything and gave Emma’s character more of a “voice” (as in a stronger willed personality), this movie could’ve been great. Could’ve matched Clockwork Orange or The Rocky Horror Picture Show
I think this is THE comedy of the year. And I also consider this is the best performance by Emma Stone. The script is inventive, interesting and entertaining. The story of Bella Baxter, of whom we don't know a lot at the beginning and we can't understand why she is like that, is attractive. As the film moves forward we get the story behind this strange girl and everything becomes more alluring. It is very sexual, but seen through her eyes I did not find it offensive or tacky. The cinematography is great, the production design is inspired and the costume design is ingenuous, very well suited for the characters. Makeup and hairstyling are remarkable as well. It might be a little too long, and that might be its disadvantage.
Review by :)BlockedParent2024-02-02T21:40:12Z— updated 2024-05-09T14:00:01Z
I'm disappointed. The movie looks and sounds beautiful - the costumes and the world both are very intricate. I enjoy the language that is used, how the dialogues are written and I especially love the concept of the movie. It's not something new, plenty of books cover basically the same idea of a "clean" human, who grew up without societies influence, discovering the world. Nontheless, I was intrigued. Sadly since Bella is a woman, clearly the only way for her to explore the world is through having sex with men, because how else. And that could have been fine, talking about sex and sexuality is important, but this movie just uses it as a way to make jokes and show her tits. It is shown as something great and liberating, even when grown man assault her as a child or when she works at a brothel. Besides this weird portrayal of sex, there is not much substance. A few buzz words are thrown around like socialism, worker unions etc., but the writers were happy with just mentioning this stuff. Even when talking about prostitution, the commentary is restricted to "what if the prostitues would choose who they have sex with" - what a great, elaborate thought. This shows just how little thought went into the writing. Overall there is nothing worthwhile to be found here - at best you will get an ignorant commentary about topics they clearly have never engaged with.