Poor Things Review
Theatrical Movie Review - Comedy/Drama
I am a woman of strong opinions, particularly about films. I don’t usually have a chance to watch a movie more than once before I review it, and I don’t generally need more than one view to form an opinion. But because I had COVID this week and was unable to see a new film releasing, I rewatched Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest film, “Poor Things,” courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. I rewatched it because I don’t know that any movie last year had me as twisted up as this one.
When Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) discovers a freshly deceased pregnant corpse, he decides to conduct an experiment. He replaces the dead woman’s brain with that of her unborn infant, creating Bella Baxter (Emma Stone). He hires Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) to help with the research, but Max soon finds himself enthralled with Bella. Godwin decides that Max and Bella should be betrothed, so he hires Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) to write up a contract stipulating the terms and that Bella was never to leave his home. However, Bella yearns for freedom, so she runs away with Duncan in order to experience everything that the world has to offer.
First off, this is one of the most visually spectacular films of 2023. The set design is flawless, and the practical effects are a reminder that audiences crave this in filmmaking. The score is profoundly unsettling and sets the tone perfectly for every scene. The costumes perfectly blend Victorian style with modern influences, adding to the steampunk aesthetic.
Additionally, this movie boasts some of the best performances of last year. Ruffalo is unhinged as Wedderburn and is so much fun to watch. Dafoe gives a lovely, subtle performance despite the massive prosthetics. And Stone shines with an impressively physical performance that wows at every turn. Watching her grow and mature over the course of the movie is a treat.
Even though I loved so many aspects of this movie, it ultimately fell short for me when it came to the story. This movie touts itself as a look at feminism in a world of misogyny, but given that the primary form of freedom that we see Bella engage in is sexual, that has some implications. The film is fantastical, of course, and Lanthimos said he wanted to explore what a woman without shame might be like. But the truth is, shame is not the only, or possibly even the primary reason that women are less free sexually. Pregnancy is a concern for many women, particularly at a time when abortion rights are under attack. And this is to say nothing of the fact that when she has her first sexual experience with a man, she still very much has the mind of a child.
So, I end this where I started: a bit flummoxed on whether or not I can recommend this film. Ultimately, I think I have to go with my gut and say pass on “Poor Things.” While there is a lot to love about this film, a feminism that is more palatable for men than women isn’t one that I’m interested in.
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on January 14, 2024.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I had to get in the mindset and fantastical world of Bella but once I did I was freed to laugh, cry and love