Poor Things may be one of the most visually stunning movies of the year. With artistic architecture, locations, outfits, transitions, and chapter cards that are so beautifully done they’re a work of art on their own. But the story may not be for everyone.
The movie with Emma Stone heading the film is very loosely based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a monster created by a scientist brought to life and having their own adventures. Stone plays Bella, the monster who was created by Godwin (or God). Throughout the movie, she goes from a childlike creature to one who is independent and makes her own decisions about her life. Very analytical, Bella lives life like an experiment trying different things to see the different results – all while sending letters home about her adventures.
Despite the visual beauty of the movie, there are a lot of unsettling things. From her creator’s assistant wanting to marry her and have her despite her childlike mannerisms, to the men that continue to try to control her throughout her life. Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) who promises her adventure and to see the world. Instead, he tries to control her and possess her like every man she has encountered in the past. Her beauty and simple mannerisms make her an easy mark in their eyes. Ruffalo, does, however, take a break from the nice guy we’re used to seeing and does portray a bad guy well.
But as she “ages” or matures in her mentality, Bella begins to fight back and to choose her own path. She decides that to make money she would work as a prostitute, which to be fair would be the only job open to destitute women at the turn of the last century. More analytical than anything else she documents her sexual exploits and the men she’s with as a new experiment. While this is a key part of her story and trade – the long scenes of Stone engaged in sexual acts with different men does get grating and go on for entirely too long.
There’s something about the appeal of the woman fighting back and taking control despite the world around her. But at the same time, Stone clearly takes control of the role and goes from almost infant-like to fully shaped adult within the span of the movie. Her acting varies greatly throughout the whole film as she shows her range.
This isn’t the type of movie we’re used to seeing released from Searchlight Pictures. Instead, it’s something that we would expect from A24. Poor Things is visually stunning with creative scenes, architecture, and costumes that will have you drooling over the artistry. But that alone can’t save the movie for all viewers. The story has several unsettling moments and a lot more nudity and sex that general audiences will be comfortable with. It truly is a movie that the art house movie lovers are going to love and to love to pick apart. It gives a nod to classic literature, but at the same time makes it its own while evoking a full range of emotions along the way.
It’s not an easy watch at times and it may be a movie that you have a love-hate relationship with. POOR THINGS opens in theaters this Friday, December 8th.
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About Poor Things:
From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin 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. Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Margaret Qualley