by Jason Osiason

I am over the moon about Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest visionary masterpiece. It’s like a hard R-rated Wes Anderson movie, bursting with a sense of wonder and a level of creativity that showcases a side of Lanthimos we didn’t know he had in him. The film’s exuberant set pieces and Lanthimos’s painstaking visual eye, employing many fish-eye lenses, create an unforgettable cinematic experience that brilliantly mocks masculine authorship while exploring themes of consent and aesthetics.

Poor Things follows Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life by the eccentric and brilliant scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter after she commits suicide. Baxter replaces her brain with that of her unborn child, giving her a unique, childlike perspective on life. As Bella navigates her second chance at life, she experiences a series of adventures and epiphanies, particularly regarding her sexuality and personal autonomy. Her journey is both whimsical and profound, challenging Bella to reconcile her childlike innocence with the harsh realities of the world around her. Bella’s relationships and experiences lead her on a path of self-discovery and empowerment, culminating in her asserting her newfound independence and strength.

Emma Stone’s performance in Poor Things is a whirlwind of genius, breaking all the rules with style, complexity, and panache. It’s a testament to her physical prowess and expressive power. The kind of performance that reminds you why you fell in love with movies in the first place. Stone delivers an elaborate performance of high-wired comic mania and wild body movements, more colorful than the shiny costumes she wears. Mark Ruffalo thoroughly enjoys himself, playing the role of a pompous pimp to Emma’s character. The press screening was engaged in shocked and sustained laughter for nearly 140 minutes nonstop.

Willem Dafoe’s performance as Dr. Godwin Baxter is profoundly emotional. What could have been a wicked character is instead portrayed as damaged, sympathetic, and warm. Dafoe brings a depth to Baxter that makes him one of the film’s most compelling figures, adding layers of nuance to the eccentric scientist.

Poor Things is such a glorious and bizarre parallel universe period piece that brilliantly picks apart the ideas of sexuality and ownership. Emma Stone plays a ‘sexual terminator,’ her own creation, seducing and destroying men for all they have. It’s a performance of a lifetime, making the film a standout piece in Lanthimos’s filmography. Despite the occasional script issues, the film’s visual flair and bold narrative make it an unforgettable cinematic experience. [A]