Poor Things

what a goofy way to say “her body, her choice!” in all seriousness, emma stone and mark ruffalo fully embrace the story’s kookiness—you won’t see better physical comedy in another film this year. emma stone’s warmth and curiosity fills every scene she’s in, and mark ruffalo plays against type with such glee that it truly steals the show. willam dafoe is also perfectly cast, and ramy youssef is brilliantly earnest (although i do wish lanthimos gave him more to do). after the depravity of the favourite, i wasn’t expecting this movie to make me smile so often. the scenery is gorgeous and truly takes you to another land, and the fisheye lens is the perfect choice to drive its strange, beautiful, uncanny version of our world home. the comedic elements are where this film shines brightest. there’s a kindness to this movie that feels wholly unexpected. i love seeing this side to yorgos lanthimos. the ending feels rushed, to the detriment of christopher abbott, who does the best he can with a rather flimsy character. we need to cast him in more things!! he is a terrific actor but was chained down by his material. tightening this up and exploring bella’s true romantic feelings would’ve made all the difference. overall, a wonderful, off-kilter study in how hard it is to find yourself in a world where people benefit from your ignorance. i, as a woman who often feels too big and loud and insensitive, felt particularly close to bella’s character. however, this story is told in such a genuine and heartfelt manner that i think it’s ultimately universal to anyone. we’ve all felt out of place, and the world is constantly trying to force us into boxes. if you’ve ever felt like the more you self-actualize, the less others like you, this movie will resonate.