Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have reteamed and the result, “Poor Things,” is being heralded as a new classic for the ages.
In “Poor Things,” Stone plays a young woman named Bella Baxter who is brought back to life by the “brilliant and unorthodox scientist” Dr. Goodwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
The reviews for the movie have been effusive in their praise and social media is hailing the film for embracing both Lanthimos’ brand of wackiness while also being extremely graphic.
Film critic Alex Billington said, “Poor Things is… the raunchiest film of the decade?! 🤯🫣 Everyone remember how much of a stir Antichrist caused?! Poor Things is that x100! THE WORLD IS NOT READY. Genius. Absolutely genius film. Loved it. Have so much to talk about.”
It’s no surprise that star Emma Stone is being cited as giving an awards-worthy performance as the Frankenstein-esque monster. Variety’s Jazz Tangcay said, “#PoorThings Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone deliver their best film to date. It’s visually delicious and wildly entertaining. Emma is pitch-perfect and remarkable as Bella on a journey of liberation and equality. Obsessed with the awe-inspiring costume and production design.”
Yasmine Kandil, of the film site DiscussingFilm, also praised Stone but said Mark Ruffalo, is also worthy of praise. “POOR THINGS is a truly phenomenal adaptation that is both loyal & unrestrained. Emma Stone delivers an utterly enchanting career-best performance with Mark Ruffalo not far behind. This is Lanthimos operating at his very finest level of artistic expression #Venezia80.”
You can see other reactions below. “Poor Things” hits theaters December 8.
