Poor Things

Another fantastic movie from Mr. Lanthimos. One of the most entertaining retellings of the Frankenstein story I've ever seen. Maybe the best. That's definitely debatable.

The story was marvelous and well written. It's split into acts based on Bella's (Emma Stone) journey. Speaking of Emma Stone, she was incredible here. Some of her best work imo. Her ability to show the different sides of Bella's development was astounding. Everyone is cooking honestly. Mark Ruffalo is in his bag. Really doing something new and different for him. William DeFoe is crushing as always. And even the side characters all come through with great performances.

Some of the cinematography was top notch. Really felt like you were watching a watercolor painting come to life.

I loved this movie. Only a 9/10 because it felt a lil long. Definitely worth a watch for fans of his work!

Clearly a lot of people enjoyed this grotesque movie, but it wasn't for me. Some of the scenes in it made me feel sick, and maybe they were supposed to, but it seemed unnecessary. Don't even get me started on how pretentious the movie was.

I also found this movie very frustrating because the acting was good, the sets and costuming were good, and some scenes used striking cinematography. These things all made me feel like I should've liked the movie, but I don't. It could have been put to much better use.

The sex and nudity is beyond gratuitous. I'm usually not bothered by sex scenes in movies, but for this particular film it felt perverted. Maybe the director has a weird fetish.

Ultimately, this film made me want to crack my own head open and pour bleach over my brain. It's one of those movies I'd like to block out. I don't think I'll ever watch anything else by Lanthimos.

Where to begin with this one....

First off, the performances presented here are top of their class. Absolutely phenomenal! In a film with characters as strange as these, you need a strong cast and every player here was up to the task and more! Just brilliant!

Secondly, the story is insane. I mean padded room, straight jacket type of insane. When reading the synopsis, I was thinking about how wild of a concept it was and did not think they could pull off such an audacious plot. However, Yorgos and company had a specific vision for this film and it shows in the amount of detail in both the screenplay and the visionary artistic decisions. I can say, they completely nailed it!

Thirdly, exploring the human condition through sexuality, in all emotional forms, has been done before. Though, never quite like this. It was refreshing to see it through the eyes of someone reborn and ready for everything life had to throw her, as opposed to the usual timid youthful eyes.

Lastly, the cinematography is wonderfully done. Mixing between black and white to full color, with wild scenery and beautifully detailed architecture. Sometimes the film felt like a dream captured within a painting. It was quite beautiful.

Overall, I would highly recommend it. I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea. It is very artsy, very sexually uncomfortable, and very strange. However, if you enjoy great storytelling and truly original visions on film, better see this on the big screen.

4.5 surgerys out of 5.

Well it was just weird. But I really loved Mark Ruffalo in the movie. He was so funny. And he really made the role very believable. The other actors and actresses were great but their roles didn't have the same kind of acting needed. Ruffalo was able to put more emotion into his role. Emma Stone did her role very well as the lovely Bella. Who was learning more and becoming a more rounded role for her. So her "frankinsteinish" role was well played. Dafoe as the mad scientist who let his creation loose into the world was well played as well! Personally I would have just watched it for Mark Ruffalo though.

I went into the theatre now knowing what to expect as the fiancé had booked the tickets. She said she'd heard it was "artsy" and "special". Those words were a gross understatement.

The setting is basically a fantasy and everything is off - but that's the point. It is gory but not in a disgusting way. There's a lot of nakedness.

But god damn - the acting is the best I've seen for some time. Mark ruffalo and Emma stone are amazing in their roles and they're being pathetic and hysterically funny all the way at the same time but their progressions in terms of being pathetic run diagonally forward towards each other.

I'm not going to recommend this movie to but a specific crowd of people though. It's not an attempt at pleasing a wide crowd. It's a vision by the director that's been clearly set forth and executed brilliantly and you as a viewer feel amazed that you get the chance to have a glimpse into this very weird mind that's written this. It's not a must see in terms of the story but in terms of creating art it definitely is.

I loved it and felt disgusted at the same time. I was amazed and very troubled at the same time. It's a challenge to anyone who views it to open up all pre-conceived notions and completely throw them overboard. Be prepared to accept the dichotomies of the world for what they are and experience all the ugliness you can imagine and you will be fine.

But just to lay out how disgusting this movie can be at times - a middle aged couple walked out of the theatre approximately 15 minutes into the movie. But we all know how some middle aged couples can be.