POOR THINGS - Movie Review

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[@jamespace5429]

I found your comments on the third act very interesting because it perfectly captured my experience -- the first time watching. It felt like a plateau jad been reached. But, on second viewing, it actually really worked for me. It felt like Bella's journey was complete, but the one thing she lacked was a history - so she goes looking for it, ro discover who she/her mother was, to understand the life that women were pigeonholed into and the tumult it came with. The cruelty of the general that Victoria embraced, the self loathing, the lack of options. Why did she end up on that bridge. And the second time round, I felt the darkness. The general seems truly monstrous in a film full of monsters. And Bella is able to comfront the monster at the heart ofthe maze in a way Victoria couldn't. I'm not sure how well worded this is but my point is it felt like coming full circle and totally worked for me in a way it didn't watch on first watch. Great review as always, you're the best in the game.

[@SoulKnightKing]

If Willem DaFoe doesn't win an Oscar after 40 years of hustling, and a brilliant performance in a Best Picture Frontrunner than We riot. This man ks the most fearless, consistent, and talented working actor we have. I would argue no one today has his filmography because hes fearless in the roles he always chooses and really brings out the character's humanity because he grew up in the theather. Point is GIVE HIM ALL THE AWARDS

[@looney1023]

It seems like they're pushing Mark Ruffalo for the Supporting performance categories so I'm not sure it's his year unfortunately.

[@richardlyth]

And he should begin his speech by saying "You know, I'm something of an Oscar-winner myself."

[@themtgdude486]

I liked his performance a lot but I promise you he won’t for this film.

[@yashnigam6]

Who gives a shit about the Oscars?

[@greggibson33]

@@yashnigam6 Exactly. Bet Willem doesn't give a fck. It's soooo weird that fans of celebrities take things so personal. Like their life will be empty if an favorite actor doesn't get a dumb award.... 😆

[@PenjaminFranklyn]

Love your channel and the way you articulate and convey your reviews with conviction and educated insight 💯

[@thebestwingsfan]

Good for Emma Stone. After starting out as a routine Hollywood actress in Easy A and The Amazing Spider-Man, she could've just continued with typical Hollywood roles but ever since Birdman in 2014, she's really taken chances with more independent projects and has really evolved as an actress similar to how Elizabeth Taylor did with darker, more mature roles as she became an adult.

[@denniszenanywhere]

The trick is to work outside of the Hollywood system.

[@beestingza]

@@TackJorranceVery few actors have the luxury to "get the big money making projects out of the way".

[@greggibson33]

What about Zombieland?

[@tavtaverner5886]

She's really good in The Curse too

[@BB-ed4om]

She makes mainstream movies too.

[@hoibsh21]

Ah, the problematic third act. I appreciate a filmmaker with a fresh vision so I'll definitely see this movie.

[@napturaladvice7646]

The third act needed so much work. The first two acts were great.👍

[@ennvee1989]

I find it odd that Bella is a child in a woman's body....predatory manipulation of innocence. And look at the image on the book cover ( man with children on his lap).

[@j.stretcher]

i don't mean this in a snarky way but that's literally one of the main themes in the film. yes, it's odd, but not much odder than the real life obsession men have with youth/naivety in women. I'm just glad that we finally have a movie willing to speak about it

[@davidvalero8275]

​@@j.stretcherhonestly the movie doesn't seem to challenge or critic that perversion, I would say that is either almost the opposite or it ignores the problem at best. In the end, Emma Stone's character married to the same guy who engaged to her when she was barely a toddler.

[@mhawang8204]

@@davidvalero8275 But she was first betrothed to keep her in the house. She rejected that proposition right away to have her adventure, and proposed to him after she matured into an independent woman, understanding it's a practical love. She also left him at the altar to find out more about her past. In the end she brought her lover to stay with her, and it was not clear if she ever got married Max. She is always in control and makes her decisions. The context matters.

[@estherbraga2341]

@davidvalero8275 ​I agree. To me, this idea that she had agency is a farse. She still is a child whose abuse is forgiven because they've thrown an over sexualization on her part. A kid who knows how to masturbate remains a kid that needs to be nurtured, not exploited

[@FruityHachi]

@@j.stretcher men being obsessed with youth/naivety in women is hardly anything new in cinema, it's practically everywhere, even tv shows like Two and a Half Men speak about men's obsession with women's youth/naivety and I'd say that Two and a Half Men does the critique better, it even shows Charlie at some point rejecting the young woman and wanting a more mature woman who is not an airhead

[@Missjunebugfreak]

This is my most anticipated film of the year!! I've been watching your reviews in the past month after a friend recommended your channel to me and I have to say you have a way of articulating your criticisms and insights that's better than most critics I've seen. Your passion is evident and your intelligence shines through - it inspires me to analyse the stuff I love and hate beyond a surface level. Keep up the amazing work! ❤

[@elivoegel]

was her baby female or male? and would it make a difference?

[@ThisisDaniel]

What an interesting perspective, never even considered that 😲

[@gabvideo]

I never thought of that and just presumed it was unborn female baby. Will analyse this next time 8 watch this film as it’s so worth watching again.

[@JustGeorgeRay]

Very well spoken and articulated! I fell in love with this film and avoided all trailers and promotional material to an extreme degree and I'm glad I did. You definitely opened my eyes up to more than what I experienced on my first watch so thank you (seeing it again this weekend and couldn't be more excited and hope you get a chance too as well!)

[@strosa12]

I loved it. It has a debauched 19th century, ex-machina vibe to it in beautiful colors. She's taking everything in and will eventually turn out the lights. Good stuff.

[@chelseapoet3664]

As far as I'm concerned, you're easily the best reviewer out there. After I saw this brilliant film I came straight to your channel and wasn't disappointed.

[@surianisuri1443]

Maggie, I have enjoyed and followed your reviews for ten years now, but sadly having watched this movie a few days ago I seem to have taken a different message and meaning from Poor Things. The character played by Willem Dafoe I found to be sympathetic and definitely displayed his love as an adoptive father (from my own experience) for the character of Bella. Sadly I did not see the feminist narrative, except in a modern day pervasion of that feminist narrative. Overwhelmingly as the movie progressed I became more and more uncomfortable with the clear message being pushed about the grooming and sexual exploitation of a ten year old to twelve year old girl. I felt like one of the Germans that had witnessed the opening of the Ark of the Covenant. This is clearly a film promoting Pedophilia and was not subtle. The point where an emaciated Emma Stone was tied up in a brothel scene and subjected Kinbaku was without doubt perverse. Emma Stone has been one of my favourite actresses since I first remember seeing her in Superbad (2007), when she played a delightful and attractive young woman. I thought that she was great in Zombiland and I even enjoyed her performance in La La Land. Sadly I did not see the character that you described in your review, instead I witnessed a child who was abused and manipulated, separated from the Willem Dafoe character who loved protected and sheltered her and then subjected to manipulation and sexual exploitation. Perhaps because I am in England where we have had the experience of hundreds of thousands of girls from the age of 10 years old groomed and raped for twenty five years with the complete approval of the government, police and social services that I see this movie in a completely different light. Although based upon the novel by Alasdair Gray, this film appeared to be a terrible attempt to visualise a third rate version of an Alan Moore comic book, if it had been in the hands of a director such as Zack Snyder maybe it could have been saved.

[@superlunary2015]

Thank you! This was literally a pedo film!

[@squatch545]

The entry into Yorgos Lanthimos for me was The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was incredible. Looking forward to Poor Things.

[@Missjunebugfreak]

The Killing of a Sacred Deer is my favorite film of his but I have loved almost all his work. So I'm beyond excited for Poor Things.

[@jugo1944]

That's actually my least fav of his. Dogtooth continues to blow my mind

[@RodrigoMenezesss]

Killing is actually my least favorite movie of his, but I still very much enjoy it.

[@looney1023]

I love all of his films. Sacred Deer is my favorite, but I've meaning to revisit Dogtooth. That one's been my number two of his

[@MiesAnthrophy]

- the most memorable film from last year. - this movie would be a great double bill with "The City of Lost Children" - amazing to see how Emma Stone's career got to this point: stunning doesn't even cover it regarding her performance here - those costumes and sets were to die for - Bella Baxter is a fully realized woman as she sits there contently in the film's final frame

[@M_Sonata]

To be honest, I tend to disagree with some of your reviews, but I see completely eye to eye with you regarding Poor Things. Thanks for the vlog

[@TheGuitarHerEoin]

I’ve never seen an actor command such a range of accents ……in one film.His dialogue (presumably not his fault) from Victorian Aristocrat to 90’s US high-school Kid! Would it be an idea for someone else to look over this guys scripts?

[@hermexhermex]

Thank you for articulating what’s so great about this movie. You have a talent for breaking down extremely complicated movies.

[@jasonkim7223]

felt like a cross between wes anderson and lars von trier movie. Loved it!

[@mordantfilms]

After I heard your opinion of Ruffalo's character, I went into it expecting to not like him. However, I found his character absolutely hilarious and pathetic. In general, I was impressed that most of the American actors played English and Irish characters that could've easily been given to English and Irish actors and everyone, especially Kathryn Hunter, was incredible. I found it particularly funny that Bella started out with an American accent and slowly developed her English accent as she learned more. Easily the best of '23 for me. I see that Stone is already going to be in Lamthimos' next two projects. She obviously has become his muse. I can't wait. I'd actually like to see him work with Farrell again as well.

[@cindyr4918]

I found the movie to be interesting - I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I do like the fact that it makes you think due to the ideas being explored and the relationships that play out. I wish we had seen more of her interacting with Astley actually - he was the one male who found her interesting and tried to challenge her viewpoints without trying to sleep with her. I also would have loved to see more of her exploration of the world versus having the main emphasis be on her sexual awakening - I loved the scene where she was just exploring that city and taking it all in.

[@mikeknowles5848]

Really looking forward to this. My favourite Alasdair Gray novel, I was actually at the launch of this book.

[@themtgdude486]

Unfortunately, I pretty much hated it. I kept thinking is sex the only way a woman can experience the world? Women are way much more than that.

[@deepfocuslens]

It's not the only way, but unfortunately for certain women who look a certain way, the way you are perceived is hard to escape, as is common. And I think this film captured that quite realistically.

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

I think a lot of men still underestimate female intelligence. What many don't realize is that we hold up half the sky. We are the yin to the yang. Different but equal. Mankind will never evolve until Womankind manifests that equality.

[@gabvideo]

It’s not that sex is the only way women can experience the world it’s that society demands that women conform their attitudes to sex to a prescribed standard and behaviour. Why is there a special word for women’s sexual desire (nymphomania) and the real belief in some Victorian medical circles that women enjoying sex was “ hysteria” a condition that had to be treated and cured. That being said I think this film is so much more than Bella’s exploration of her sexuality.

[@CalvinCrack]

Brilliant review. You liked it more than I did but you make some salient points about its virtues. I think there’s 2/3 of a good movie here but it didn’t land for me, which left a sour taste. I’m surprised you found it a counterpoint to “shallow feminism” in film (or however you put it) because one of my critiques is that its themes felt an inch deep, offering more food for thought than a full meal. I left the movie hungry but not wanting seconds. It reminds me of a puffed bag of chips apparently ready to burst until you open it and find mostly air.

[@roxylava6627]

Hahaha, much like Bella's sleeves throughout the film??

[@gabiocampos]

I love your reviews because you never spoil 👌🏻

[@jameswallace756]

Loved this film as well! Saw it back in early November before the SAG Strike ended. Thought of the film a great deal since and what you say about Bella having an equal in a male partner - great point!

[@gigsreacts4228]

I’m drawn to you as a film critic because you express your ideas in extremely eloquent and masterful ways. When we agree on a film, I feel like you articulate exactly what I felt about that film precisely. But, in watching a few of your reviews it does seem clear to me that you value thematics and density much more than you do narrative or story. Poor Things, for me, didn’t offer up anything profound AT ALL. She is coming of age and wants to explore her sexuality… okay… what else? For me, that is wafer thin. And it’s essentially what the whole film is about. The story doesn’t hold anything of value to me. I say this because I watched your Fight Club review also and you were wanting for something more profound to be said/stated. Films for me, although they can be enlightening, are ultimately a medium of entertainment. And watching Emma Stone get boinked by perverted old men over and over again isn’t something I tend to enjoy 😂 How are you supposed to feel walking away from a film like this? Genuinely curious. I clocked what it was about in the opening minutes of the film so to hammer the audience over the head with the concept again and again but taking them to new locations and changing the colour palette from black and white to vivid colour is not inspired, to me anyway.

[@DrewBlack-o4e]

Stunning cinema. Overwhelmed me totally. Rarely give a 10/10 each year but this grabbed the points already. My sixth film this year and loved it after some early dross films.

[@jayxavier6930]

I think the critique of the film's somewhat one-sided feminism (or neo-feminism) is right on the money: i.e. that it offers a monochromatic view of men, whereas a more nuanced work would depict Bella meeting her match in a male and thereafter growing as a result. One suspicion I have is this shortsightedness may be due to the fact that the film was written and directed by men, and moreover based on a novel also by a male. Of course, male artists can perceptive on women, but too often when they put on their feminist thinking caps, out of misplaced good will, they fall back on reductive tropes: women gain autonomy and emancipation by learning to outgrow men, who are all in turn revealed to be parasitic and abusive scum. That sort of view is not only insulting, but also unhelpful -- to women. Maybe it takes a female artist-filmmaker-storyteller, who has had to negotiate relationships with men, to work out a more nuanced view. For all her flaws, Jane Campion has often done just that: ironically, she did once with one of this film's stars, i.e. Mark Ruffalo in In the Cut (an artistically inferior film, but also a more ideologically challenging one).

[@maryjaneshoe-fm4yr]

"Poor things" thinks women gain autonomy and emancipation through sexual relationships with men, i.e., women need men to become empowered. I don't understand why so few female critics are picking up on this male idea of feminism. Are they afraid of not appearing sex-positive and progressive enough if they say the movie has a problematic message?

[@greggibson33]

@@maryjaneshoe-fm4yr Exactly. Seems obvious. Very surprised this channel didn't get it.

[@jlyhrn]

Well said

[@Kumarcentral]

@@maryjaneshoe-fm4yrI couldn’t agree more!

[@cacsims3]

Thank you for this review and loving your own insights into everything absurd yet succinct about Poor Things. My current core memory is watching it with a packed house and everyone being glued into every second of it and loving every single joke. One of my favorite cinema experiences of all time.

[@smittycal]

I just watched this movie tonight and I loved it. Just well shot, well paced, and well acted. All of the actors gave some great nuanced performances, and the surreal concepts explored were great. I also like the exploration of characters here and just the logical progression of her actions. But yeah definitely a must see with a heavy mature rating lol, but it was great.

[@warrenjohns3194]

i always look forward to your reviews. please keep it up. happy new year

[@antondalemma5484]

My expectations rendered so low by the pap in theatres, I was in awe of the artistic brilliance of this film. The theme was incredibly brave, brilliant and felt utterly comfortable. Loved your review. My question is why the necessity of "sense of darkness" in the 3rd act. Bella closes her "childhood," finally reaches her early "adult" self and leaves audience wondering where her long life will lead.

[@zachbunch8701]

All this talk about feminism and calling Bella a woman etc when she’s literally a child is borderline pushing pedophelia. She’s an infant and within several months she somehow has the development of a teenager awhile being an infant

[@WCYUM]

So my friends and I were the only ones who felt uncomfortable that adults were having sex with a child throughout this film??

[@Sayu277]

The reason I haven't seen it ...

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

YES!!! A Pedophilic fantasy masquerading as art!

[@berk6506]

Thank you. I can't believe people making me feel narrow-minded while they enjoy being "artistic". There is a distasteful & unfair irony somewhere. Unbelievable. A 5 year-old losing her innocence through sexual urges & men taking advantage of her underdeveloped brain. What are we even talking about?

[@Will_ShakesBeer]

Not at all, people have creative alternatives for the word pedophilia.. but our "uncomfortable " feelings will be misconstrued as prude or not understanding the "art" of it..😶

[@Христоиграчя]

Yup. Emma Stone is clearly not a child.

[@aldriel8274]

This is the 4th of February 1:18am and I've just finished watching Poor Things. Every actor's and actress's dream movie to participate on for real, you are 100% accurate on this take Maggie. What a work of art of a movie. The sets and the ocean of subjects in it, the dark humor, the shocks and sometimes the wonders, the magnificent acting of absolutely everyone. Poor Things and Holdovers go directly to my top 30 favorites of all time, dethroning some as time casualties. Movies do age badly. Editing just to say, great movies are back boys and girls!! Slowly and crawling like creatures in the night but, there is a solid hope after all.

[@ES-yc1tp]

the portrayal of sex work was pretty lackluster in my opinion, for me this is the only bit that didn’t land from the movie.

[@pegacorn13]

I just walked out of the theater an hour ago and I absolutely loved this film

[@maryjaneshoe-fm4yr]

I don't see it as wrong not to shout out your kinks at work or at the dinner table. It doesn't mean you are unhealthy and repressed. It means you care enough about others not to make them feel uncomfortable. Good manners are about being unselfish.

[@deepfocuslens]

I never said you should shout them out. I merely said it's a strange concept.

[@Spractral]

I want to watch this but honestly I hate Mark Ruffalo 110% .. not just his obnoxious political views but just the way he acts & looks in every movie (& life)... Also I didn't like The Lobster at all so I've put off watching anything by this director.. I started Sacred Deer & stopped because it felt just as boring, pointless & pretentious as The Lobster Good review like usual

[@M.H.I.A.F.T.]

@Soractral What obnoxious views? Not liking Trump? And can't you separate art from artist?

[@greggibson33]

@@M.H.I.A.F.T. If someone thinks a film is pretentious that doesn't mean they can't separate art from artist. Can't it simply mean they think it's pretentious?

[@luckyleprechaun-e7h]

agreed-what obnoxious political views? oh dear god. is he a dreaded lib that you want to own now? because hey-that's what's life all about over here on the non-obnoxious political view side of things. because there is certainly nothing obnoxious about that side of things is there? it sounds like whatever being pretentious means to you is your immediate deal-breaker. if it seems pretentious in any way-done, over. I am wondering if ruffalo seems pretentious to you, which is why you are not in the game with him 110%. I don't like pretense either. I do find being pretentious as less taxing and annoying as being intolerant. or bigoted or cruel. the pretentious are annoying but ultimately aren't out to destroy. I am trying to think of political views for instance opposite of ruffalo. and also, he's a movie star. I love movie stars. but they live in a completely different world and existence. however they come to their views, it is way different than how I have come to mine. so I find it hard to buy into any of their views in any direction.

[@jonathannoble9465]

I’m really excited to see what Emma Stone brings to Ari Aster’s next film ‘Eddington’.

[@peterkerj7357]

The writer seems to have thought that adding the word fuck makes sentences funny. Or at least the guy sitting behind me in the theatre thought so.

[@looney1023]

I knew you were gonna love this one. This is the film of the year for me. I'm already primed to love everything Yorgos Lanthimos ever does, but this was just on a whole other level. I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of his earlier films, particularly Dogtooth!

[@FredBloggsTheThird]

Just to clarify, Bella calls him God because it's a short version of his name Godwin that would have been easier to say when she's got a childs brain.

[@legochickenguy4938]

I completely agree with your critiques that 1) her journey kinda plateaus in the third act and that stage and that stage of journey just doesn't feel as well-explored or fleshed-out and 2) she more or less totally runs over all the men in the film in an intellectual sense, and it would've been interesting to see a male character who actually could've stood up to her. You said both of these things a lot better than I could've, bravo.

[@dariopadovan1976]

He overworks everything and it’s basically neofeminism.

[@schainaubb]

I felt this movie is fun to compare with three movies with similar themes: 1) Taken: In that Poor Things is the exact opposite of it - the father allows his daughter to be kidnapped and then the daughter willfully chooses the brothel and gets through it on her own and comes out of it a stronger happier person 2) Regarding Henry: Another story where an adult becomes child-like and experiences the cruelty of the adult world and his wife prefers the child-like Henry to the original! 3) Big: A weird twist where the child chooses to be in adult form to enjoy adult privilege , finds the price overwhelming because, well I guess this kid isn't a genius or is easily fazed like Bella, and choose to go back to kid form.

[@egoborder3203]

so excited to see this! I didn't even know it existed until last week, but I'm a huge Lathimos fan. Hope I like it as much as you!

[@a.p6438]

Thanks for this great review!! I was looking for a woman's perspective because I feel like the male reviewers I follow really shied away from talking about the sexual aspects of the film and the feminist themes...

[@Horrorzeit]

Yes they do 😂

[@kylecampbell7141]

This movie was an adaptation. I have it as best of 2023. Emma Stone was in this and the Curse in the same year. Everyone involved needs an Oscar. They actually need an award category for role less than support but still impactful like DeFoe’s role here.

[@bgwinn]

Cinematography was also excellent. And what there was of a score I also really enjoyed.

[@fifaculture]

The fisheye lens shots, the rigid/mechanical pans, the closeup portraits of the main characters, some quick zooms for dramatic and comedic effect... A truly delightful visual experience that did a fantastic job in maximizing the possibilities of the medium and accentuating the surrealism and themes of the film.

[@commonwunder]

The clue to this films adaptation of Alasdair Gray's book, is the Blessington characters monologue on the cruise ship. Life is meaningless and humans are monsters. By the end of the film... Bella is content to be the metaphorical, and literal monster she knows she is. Not to help humanity, but to experiment on it. The core of the film is that humans are irredeemable. That's why the 'happy ending' is so unsettling. It is the quietude in the garden of utter madness. *Most men believed 'fully grown women' were still 'internally' infantile children. See Schopenhauer's ( now infamous, yet then taken as empirically valid ) 1851 'On Women' essay. This is literally the case with Bella. But the film asks the viewer... what happens if the child grows up? Although not to a happy resolution, a fairytale conclusion, but to fully realise humans were never benign to begin with. To understand that, only the veneer of societal conditioning, disguises what humans truly are. To help hide the fact, humans invent fabulous illusionary stories about themselves. That they're nothing but flightless angels. This film isn't about feminism, it is about how women wish to distance themselves, from men, in order to disown the inner monster within both of them.

[@VinnySmiles01]

This movie is already overrated in my opinion. While the overall artistic look of the movie was unique and there are some funny scenes, the characters were just ok. If Emma Stone wins an Oscar for this role it will be on par with Denzel Washington winning an Oscar for Training Day. In the end there are far too many graphic sex scenes for this to be considered an intelligently written movie. A good writer would know how to convey scenarios like that without making the audience feel like they're watching a soft core porn. That being said, Willem Dafoe is probably the only stand out performance in my opinion.

[@65g4]

Im so glad you enjoyed this. I saw it on my birthday on new years day and i loved it.

[@Patrickthe1st]

Just watched it and i didn't enjoy the film 😞. Somehow feel guilty for saying that as i really wanted to enjoy it. I just felt like I needed to be heavily invested in psychology to understand the undertones of what was happening. I enjoyed your review though.

[@barbarellaville]

Zulawski's 'Possession' is one of my favs, and Emma Stone has grown on me since 'Birdman' and 'The Favourite.' She has a weird energy that the camera instinctively devours. (Jeanne Moreau, Barbara Stanwyck, Monica Vitti, Bette Davis, etc. all had it.) Haven't seen this 'Poor Things' yet, but I love Lanthimos's other films - especially 'Alps' (my favorite of his) and 'The Lobster.' Your ambivalent views on feminism remind me of Camille Paglia's - a brilliant writer. "Man rules the world, and woman rules man." Willem Dafoe, like Lanthimos, is always fascinating (they can't help it). It seems to me that the only frontier left for feminism is a reverse one, a reclaiming of the past, where woman's elemental power is so much more self-evident than her contemporary "equal footing" political competition with men. The face that launched a thousand ships did not belong to AOC.

[@andydavis8437]

You just made this my favourite movie I've never seen.

[@BL-mf3jp]

The first third was the best part by far, because those are universal experiences. The final third especially the very end sucked ass. Bella Baxter turned her husband into a pet slave and we’re supposed to applaud that? Jesus then she’s just as bad of a monster as he is.

[@LeichenschmausHorrorreviews]

I love your reviews, there so authentic and really elaborated on a psychological analytical level. I feel that you love talking about movies, it is so nice. Your are an awesome human being, thank you for your work and time ❤

[@pedrorocha9722]

I saw the movvie this last week and I have to say.... I don't remember how it ends. Yes, the last part falls short ofthe promises of first part. Still.... This is not a movie, this is cinema, something rare in these times.

[@gpapa31]

Absolutely loved it!!! I have a feeling I’ll like it more with more viewing! The camera work and cinematography is absolutely stellar and soooo Kubrickian

[@GayathriC-sf8wy]

Maggie can you review BURNING a south korean film. In my opinion more nuanced story on class difference than parasite.

[@AdamCarnesTV]

I left the theater jokingly saying it’s a masterpiece, but immediately questioned maybe it is lol. The multi-currents like slapstick, matter-of-fact dialogue, ridiculous nature, magical realism, Rococo, etc, allow the viewer to engage in topics that might trigger some people. We are suspended in it’s absurdity and that’s non-threatening. Forgiveness is a superpower and frees one of shame’s prison. Maybe not a Fool triumphant story, but love triumphant?

[@nederlanditisnederlanditis5529]

Is it really that hard to not see (and address) the white elephant in the room in Poor Things? The way prostitution is dramatically used (if not portrayed) in the film is most regretful, to say the least. There is no, whatsoever, two sides engage in a lusty business. Neither is prostitution a means to liberty nor is offering the sheer body for sexual use in any form the expression of femininity. It's one of the most obnoxious tropes (a male phantasy, read the male gaze) that whores engage in the acts driven by their own longings for sex, and satisfying those. It is too big of an ask to accept the use of prostution as the metaphor for everybody is venal (has to carry his skin to the market). Might it be that Lanthimos now turns out to be an absurdist whose bottom line is empty cynicism (careless prestidigitation)?

[@Wetcamerainc]

Heavily disliked the movie, but I accept that some directors you just will never like. Me personally

[@DKZK21]

Reminds me of Beau is Afraid in how I ultimately feel about it after mulling it over: I admire it more than I like it, but that's not to say I don't like it.

[@recetasfaciles2816]

Dogtooth and The Favourite are still his bests movies. Poor Things it's too much noise, but nothing else. Very funny at the beggining, but very long, very weird, in a point where it becomes ridiculous and boring. Emma Stone it's the best from the movie. I really hate his use of fish eye. And the hole stetic of the movie, really beautiful but more like a cellphone wallpaper, not like an organic universe.

[@TimothyMReynolds]

Not merely neo-feminist, but ur-feminist, factoring in Wollstonecraft, Godwin, and cetera. I also felt the Charlotte Perkins Gilman influence

[@AndrewZie]

Do you feel Bella is actually a good character for exploring female sexuality? I don't think it is really appropriate given her mental age.

[@freddybaumgartner3096]

In real life, yes. But I don't think the film is meant to be taken literally. It's more like a fairy tale.

[@offthedeepend3996]

This movie is essentially nothing more than one long 2.5 hour long PDF-ile justification movie. Movies like this are plot-less.

[@sleepyazathoth5238]

Yorgos is a must watch for me so I'm beyond excited for this. Thanks for the review! Really hoping that you review Godzilla Minus One as well, cheers.

[@tenzingnorgay93]

I’ve been a fan of Yorgos Lanthimos since he mesmerized me with his film, Dogtooth. It just got better and better afterwards. I’m so excited to see Poor Things now that you’ve given it your stamp of approval. P.S. Are you planning to do a review of The Holdovers? I’d love to get your thoughts on what I feel is destined to be considered a classic for the Christmastime period from Alexander Payne.

[@LisaMurphy]

I just saw The Holdovers & thought it was the best movie of the year. Mainly because of Paul Giamatti, who is excellent.

[@justingalaviz922]

Im gonna watch it! Can you review Godzilla Minus One next?

[@GlynDwr-d4h]

This doesn't sound very promising. Maybe films that attempt to dive into feminist politics would be entertaining if anybody who directed one was ever saying anything interesting about it. But this is almost never the case, unfortunately, because the filmmaker never seems to have actually bothered to think about the topic with any seriousness or they're afraid to introduce nuance or uncertainty because they open themselves up to the possibility of being suspected of thought crime or ideological heresy or whatever. We're always just getting boilerplate empty sloganeering, not analysis or insight. This is especially true for male directors. It has something to do with our culture and where we are in history, I guess. What you typically get in a feminist film directed by a man is what you find in a film like Men. It's always some variation on the "myth of the one good man." Basically, every guy thinks he's the only decent guy on the planet and that it's his job to save women from all the other bad guy men, which he's going to do with his film apparently. That's why he's special. The obvious irony here is that this conception of women as damsels and men as heroes (or "allies") that save them or villains that menace them is the basic assumption behind the very traditional patriarchy of yore that he's ostensibly complaining about. It never occurs to the super sophisticated and morally superior director who is mustering all his courage to tell us how bad he thinks oppression is. F*cking hell, lol. It's like, his feminist film doesn't actually threaten the patriarchy or its assumptions, but is in fact a product of those very assumptions. He's literally endorsing the basic moral foundation of patriarchy while under the impression that he's challenging it. I mean c'mon. This is hardly an esoteric brain melting insight. To have missed this, you couldn't have thought seriously or critically about feminism at any point in your life, regardless of what side of the debate you landed on. Nobody of average intelligence is this confused about it. That's not possible. It's like a grown man, usually in middle age, who still thinks the cheerleader will choose him over the jock bully he hates because he alone understands her. lol. It's beyond cringe. Neil LaBute does this, for instance. The mark of his sincerity and sophistication is the degree to which he can vomit up his own pathological loathing, which is especially deep and super meaningful if he aims it at himself (of course). What do we learn from this? That the director is a good person and that women should approve of him? Was that the point of these movies? Because I'm not seeing any other point to them. Maybe this is a good movie -- I suppose it's possible that somebody actually makes a feminist film worth seeing for once -- but I'm honestly tempted to skip it. It's exhausting. I'm also getting "if you don't like this movie, you're against sex positivity" vibes from culture war damaged people, as if it's not possible to make a shitty movie that is pro sex or something. And since when is sex positivity a subversive message that anyone needed to hear anyway? You'd have to go back literally decades. I'm pretty sure I would disagree with the perspective of any sex negative person, but the prospect of a film made by one is at least a lot more interesting than yet another movie where we get to hear about how great the current thing we're all supposed to already agree with is.

[@greggibson33]

Agreed. Same as my post.

[@eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeo]

I can’t believe you wrote all of this for a movie you haven’t even watched. Jesus Christ.

[@mhawang8204]

That's a lot of assumptions for a movie you haven't seen...

[@francescofilippi2824]

I wish I had time and intention

[@GlynDwr-d4h]

@@mhawang8204 Most of the post isn't about Poor Things at all. It's about a particular type of film more generally.

[@kriminal012]

Funny how he makes his best movies when he’s not writing

[@GeoffryGifari]

Will there be a review of wonka?

[@geekylove3603]

Emma is the premier mainstream actor about.

[@earnthis1]

Saying feminism is a dirty word seems childlike. Perhaps it is with the toxic tribe, but seriously putting feminism on blast is hilariously inane! lolol Philosophy is a dirty word these days!!!

[@drennyvision6141]

This movie was not meant to be a love story

[@jessejones1420]

This movie seems very misunderstood. Seen a lot of comments elsewhere of people saying they walked out for being a "pdf file's dream" and one even thought the godwin had sexual urges for bella. Facepalm

[@denniszenanywhere]

I just saw this and I agree that Bella should have met her match. Instead, she comes to dominate everyone. Where’s the fun in power without someone who can challenge you. But it will do. It’s probably the best movie of the year.

[@matthewheitkamp1474]

PLEASE REVIEW BOY AND THE HARON

[@freddyM610]

Felt like there were a lot of critiques of white liberal feminism when I first left the cinema. Especially after the last scene

[@amm794]

This movie is gross and depraved garbage. Sad more people can’t see that.

[@riyintocco]

I’ll be looping the score for a long while. 🎵✨

[@GordonKegg-g8w]

I saw it last night, I am gob-smacked, it was fantastic.

[@jasonslyric4798]

Well said ! I'd like to think she found herself at the end though . Think of the dude that was a sheep . Whoa .

[@rawpower5419]

I know it’s an older movie but would love to see you review The Remains of the Day

[@deepfocuslens]

Great film. I'd love to sometime. :)

[@vix3nbl1tzen23]

You've slept on the commentary on paedophilia in this movie. "paternal instincts outweigh sexual ones... there's beauty in that" Really? Sis, you're not well

[@animula6908]

Everyone’s innocence is gone with movies now. Too many bad ones jading us

[@GlobalShutterNY]

I felt it was all surface and very little depth - def a win for Production Design. But the theme of women should control their bodies and narrative/ men are evil seems a bit overdone at this point in so much contemporary art. I did not see anything new in the intellectual themes - all text and no subtext. Def visually striking and beautiful .... I do believe this could have been a much tighter film at 2 hours- creatively edited montages of the brothel scenes would have been much more effective.

[@ilck-ym-blals7385]

Wow what a strange twisted ride of a movie , almost dream like , i loved it and so many sex scenes aswell ...was great !

[@anne-no2ic]

giant unspoken secrets between adults... interesting observation... See people usually homeless acting out their inner fantasies on the streets at every day including how people dress

[@skabcat242]

I really enjoyed the dance scene.

[@rod-alexandergeorgescu6818]

great movie great actors great cinematography pretty much everything feels in place with this movie. I give it 4.5/5 score

[@AshleyGraetz]

Bad boy bubby movie meets Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in modern film plus extras

[@mattscole847]

It was a decent movie, on the count of three directed by Jerrod carmichael wass great and underrated

[@xenduvall]

great review!

[@TheGuitarHerEoin]

Just an awful film. Self-satisfied, pseudo-intellectual, over-acted garbage. Really painful dialogue. Still, i’m big fan of your reviews so not a total loss.

[@scottchristy]

I loved it too. It's his best film... and my favorite of the year. I think Yorgos just made his Mulholland Drive

[@BookMaven9]

That was made by David lynch

[@scottchristy]

I know. What I was saying is that Yorgos made his masterwork @@BookMaven9

[@davidvalero8275]

​@@BookMaven9you missed the point

[@mhawang8204]

@@BookMaven9 HIS Mulholland Drive

[@sjm8510]

The try hard nudity was totally unnecessary, fortunately it didn't ruin the movie.

[@briansmith2163]

I like the review but the jump edit after each sentance is... Weird.