Luke Geier Reporter
Writer and director Yorgos Lanthimos is back with a new visually stunning and complex narrative film: Poor Things. The film quickly shaped up to be a major awards contender upon its release and has already picked up two Golden Globes earlier this year in the Best Motion Picture (musical or comedy) category, as well as the award for Lead Actress (in a comedy) with Emma Stone taking the win.
Adapted from the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, Poor Things follows the journey of Bella Baxter, a woman who attempts suicide but is resurrected. She is then forced to rediscover the world around her and herself. As she navigates her surroundings, her trial-and-error shapes her into the person she is destined to become.
Over the years, Lanthimos has established himself as a unique voice in the movie world thanks to his distinct style and approach to filmmaking. While the themes of Irony and dark humor that usually define Lanthimos’s previous work can also be seen in Poor Things, this film seems to be a breaking point for him, as he creates a film with elements of what we’ve come to know and love him for, with a strange and beautiful fantasy backdrop.
Emma Stone gives a once-in-a-lifetime performance in the leading role of Bella Baxter. At the beginning of the film, the character of Bella Baxter is reborn, which means she must relearn every basic function possible. Throughout the film, we see Bella transform not only through her understanding of self but through her understanding of society and the mad world that surrounds her. It’s an incredibly complex character that very well could’ve been undersold by a variety of actresses, but Emma Stone’s commitment to the role is incredible, making it one of the best things about the movie.
Emma Stone’s performance isn’t the only standout though, as the film features a wide array of characters played to perfection by the incredible supporting cast. Willem Dafoe gives a beautifully strange and heartbreaking performance as Dr. Goldwin Baxter, the mad scientist behind the creation of Bella herself. As the movie unravels, Dr. Goldwin comes to terms with the fact that while he created Bella, the life she decides to live is in her hands, and the depth that Dafoe gives the character is incredible. Mark Ruffalo also steals the show numerous times with his sleazy and controlling portrayal of Duncan Wedding.
While many audiences may have been unfamiliar with Yorgos Lanthimos before this film, it’s safe to say that the attention Poor Things is receiving and will most likely continue to receive throughout the rest of the awards season is incredibly well deserved.