Poor Things is a 2023 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and staring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott and Jerrod Carmichael. The film tells the story of Bella Baxter a woman in Victorian London who is brought back to life via brain transplant and embarks of a journey to find herself. Poor Things is a unique strange, funny, weird, wonderful film that is one of the best films of 2023.
The direction in the film is good. All the actors in the film have a good chemistry with one another. The cast itself is relatively small meaning all the actors get a chance to shine within the film. How each individual character interacts with Bella is what makes the film interesting and how both them and her change as a result is the core of the film. the mood of the film is one of wonder and magic. There is almost childlike innocence to the film as it is shown through the character of Bella. There is a great sense of wonder and joy to the film as the film presents its world through the childlike innocence of Bella as she is experiencing things for the first time. However, there is also a dark and serious aspect as well as different ideas and experiences are shown the Bella showcasing a darkens that interrupts the wonder. The style of the film is a surreal one. The film is full of bizarre imaging set to strange backgrounds with weird effects. The film has a dreamlike feel to it throughout and feels almost like a fairy-tale at times with a weird surreal nature.
The acting in the film is good. Emma Stone does a good job as Bella Baxter a woman that killed herself and was brought back to like but with her brain being replaced with that of a baby has a childlike nature to her. She plays a very likable and funny character and watching her develop and row as she learns more about the world is a great part of the film. Mark Ruffalo does a good job as Duncan Wedderburn a sleazy lawyer that tries to control and manipulate Bella. Willem Dadoe does a good job as Dr. Godwin Baxter the scientist that created Bela that act as her father in a somewhat controlling ay but does love her and gives her freedom in the end. Ramy Youssef does a good job as Max McCandles Godwins assistant that falls in love with Bella. Christopher Abbott does a good job as Alfie Blessington Bella’s husband before she committed suicide who did so because he is a volent abuser. Suzy Bemba does a good job as Toinette a prostitute that Bella befriends and engages in a lesbian relationship with. Jerrod Carmichael does a good job as Harry Astley a man Bella meets on a cruise ship that is nihilistic to life.
The writing in the film is good. The film manages to ride the line of dark and funny brilliantly. The film has a plot with. Depth and weight to it being Bella’s discovery of her own humanity and what it means to be human, and the film explores this as well as the danker elements of human nature. However, this is offset with a funny light-hearted tone throughout. The film is generally funny this humour creates great levity in the movie. The film is about a journey. Of self-discovery and winding out who you are. It is a wonderous magical and dark story that is highly enjoyable.
The cinematography in the film is good. The film use of colour is great and the film dream like landscape really works and lends well to the feel of the film. the film has a good use of fisheye lenses with help to sell the weird nature of the film. the film has beautiful backdrops with unique colour pallets that help to sell the otherworldly nature of the film. The film is very dream like in its visuals and creates the feeling of a fairy tale. The special effects in the film are good. The film constantly has special effects both VFX such as bubbles coming out of a person’s mouth and more practical effects such as blood both of which are good and create a surreal otherworldly film that indicates and drama like quality as well as sell the more brutal moments of the film.
Poor Things is a weird and wonderful film that is one of the most unique cinematic experiences I’ve had in a long time.
