A visionary and comical wonder from Yorgos Lanthimos.
Some people would like to consider the visual style “Poor Things” in the tradition of Tim Burton. They’re probably right, but I was also considering Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the French filmmaker behind such classics as “Delicatessen,” “The City of Lost Children,” and “Amelie,” among others. Maybe this movie could be inspired by both filmmakers, and it’s a marvel.
The visionary filmmaker of “Poor Things” is Yorgos Lanthimos, whose last feature was “The Favourite.” He continues his unique style, but in a vibrant and exhilarating way. There are ships that pollute green steam, skies that are painted blue or yellow (depending on the time of day), and select images are shot in black and white. It’s like looking inside a kaleidoscope that doesn’t make you dizzy, but in awe at its choice of colors.
I never would have dreamt he would have animal splices like ducks on dog or goat bodies. I never would have dreamt he would have Willem Dafoe playing Dr. Godwin Baxter, a scientist with a deformed face and a machine that helps him produce gas. His mouth just releases a big bubble at breakfast. Now this is Jeunet magic. And I never would have dreamt that Lanthimos would reunite with his “Favourite” star Emma Stone as a corpse whom Baxter resurrects, but with a few alterations. Her name is Bella, and she has the mind of a child, but even so, she still learns about the joys of sex by sticking things in her genitals.
She’s poised to reach a certain point in her life, a point when she must reach adulthood. That’s why Baxter has his student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) arranged to marry her. But first, she must make a journey to different countries with a slick lawyer named Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo).
Can it be overbearing if she throws a tantrum when she can’t get ice cream because her master’s face would frighten people? Yes, it can be, especially when I try to stay away from as much noise as possible. Part of my condition is my hatred of certain loud noises.
Can it be hilarious if Wedderburn loses his mind over Bella’s naive childish innocence and behaviors? Yes, it can be, especially when it costs him his gambling winnings.
There’s also scenes of when Bella’s eroticism earns her a job at a brothel in Paris, run by Swiney (Kathryn Hunter from “The Tragedy of MacBeth”). She has to make love to the men who choose her, whether or not they’re attractive. And that’s of great concern to the young lady.
I see actor inspiration inside both Ruffalo and Hunter, as the former acts like he’s trying to imitate Peter Sellars, while the latter combines Eartha Kitt with Paddi Edwards. But Stone is the one who carries the film with her ability to transition into character. She’s able to portray someone wacky, then someone outgoing, and finally open-minded. As demonstrated in “The Favourite,” she and Lanthimos have a certain chemistry that delights you with the right ambiance and mannerisms. And Dafoe is one of the most gifted actors for adapting to such characters you may or may not have seen before. I’ve never seen him in this state of condition before, and it’s quite complex, if you ask me.
Based on Alasdair Gray’s novel and written for the screen by Tony McNamara, “Poor Things” can also be labeled a comedy, because of how the audience was laughing at the wacky dialogue and behaviors of the characters. It’s all within the brains in the experiments and how age differences are quite essential, especially when adapting to society. I found myself laughing at the film’s choice of exuberance, but I also found some greater interest in the characters. There are good characters, bad characters, and one who deserves to be experimented on. I can’t spoil who, but once you see it, you’re delighted.
In Select Theaters This Friday
