Ahead of the 96th Oscars, there바카라™s considerable buzz around 바카라˜Poor Things바카라™ which has been nominated across 11 categories, including Best Picture. Now with the movie available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar, it바카라™s impossible not to delve into it. So, here바카라™s what the Emma Stone-starrer is all about.
바카라˜Poor Things바카라™: Story
The narrative of 바카라˜Poor Things바카라™ unfolds in Victorian London as medical student Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) becomes the assistant to the eccentric surgeon Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Max finds himself enamored with Bella (Emma Stone), a young woman who now has the mind of a child, and whose life was restored through a brain transplant orchestrated by Godwin. Despite accepting Max바카라™s proposal, Bella바카라™s intellectual growth accelerates swiftly, sparking her curiosity about the world beyond the confines of her home. Eventually, she elopes with the debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), embarking on a whirlwind adventure across European countries. She slowly learns about the real world and how unpleasant it can be, embarking on a profound journey of self-discovery and independence, eventually unraveling the truths of her own existence.
바카라˜Poor Things바카라™: Performances
In my mind, Emma Stone as Bella Baxter has already won the Oscar for Best Actress. She has single-handedly carried the entire movie, and how! Her acting and comedic prowesses have truly shone in this absurd film. The way she has exuded boldness and bravery while maintaining the same expression throughout is nothing short of brilliant. The unpredictable nature of her character and capturing the essence of her child-like origins is a marvel to witness. From being confused and premature to becoming a sexually liberated and independent woman, Stone will keep you hooked on this journey, and you will find yourself rooting for her in unimaginable ways.
Bella바카라™s impact on the men in her life, including Willem Dafoe바카라™s Godwin, Mark Ruffalo바카라™s Duncan, alongside Ramy Youssef바카라™s Max and Christopher Abbott바카라™s Alfie, has been shown remarkably. They바카라™re all just men who care for her in their own ways 바카라“ some real, some pathetic.
Mark Ruffalo as Duncan Wedderburn has perfectly stepped into the shoes of his not-so-likeable character. But on another note, he has truly given the funniest performance seen in the past year. Overdramatic at times, he did exactly what was asked of him to portray. On the other hand, Willem Dafoe바카라™s Godwin Baxter is a visual treat. He바카라™s a prime example of there바카라™s so much more than meets the eye. His character has been given a back-story that reasons with his being. His care, his determination, and his paternal love for Bella pour all over the screen.
Coming to Ramy Youssef as Max McCandles, this is where I was a bit disappointed. It seemed like such a good opportunity wasted. While there was closure given to other characters, then, why not him? There바카라™s so much about him that could have been explored; his background, why was he chosen by Godwin, why did he leave everything away to stay with the Baxters, what about Bella did he like 바카라“ so many questions with no answers.
The limited screen-time appearances by Christopher Abbott as the sadistic Alfie Blessington, Kathryn Hunter as socialist Swiney, Vicki Pepperdine as the annoyed-at-all-times Mrs. Prim, Margaret Qualley as Felicity, a pretty useless but effective replacement for Bella, and Jerrod Carmichael as Harry Astley and Hanna Schygulla as Martha von Kurtzroc, deep believers in philosophy, were top-notch and add on to the colourful ensemble cast.
바카라˜Poor Things바카라™: Script, Direction & Technical Aspects
The movie offers a bizarre yet a brilliant perspective on a woman바카라™s journey of self-discovery. It바카라™s peculiar yet playful, guaranteed to spark discussions on one바카라™s perception of the world. Penned by Tony McNamara, the film is proof that his collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos can never go wrong. The dialogues pack a punch in certain moments, and the use of one-liners is spectacular. While they may appear bland on the surface, credit goes to the fantastic ability of the cast to deliver them with utmost perfection. McNamara바카라™s writing is sharp, and doesn바카라™t beat around the bush, and delves straight into the movie바카라™s profound themes of identity, and sexuality. Overall, the script is exceptionally rich, seamlessly blending wit, depth, and a hint of vulgarity.
Robbie Ryan바카라™s brilliant cinematography is a breath-taking display of varied textures and a blend of sharp hues, contributing to the grand make-believe world showcased in the film, which, at times, feels surreal. The use of grainy black and white to depict Bella바카라™s life at home and the transition to vivid colours as she explores the world, mirroring her own growth, is captivating. Not many films use this approach, so it was fresh to see this format. Additionally, the use of fish-eye lenses and peepholes create a sense of imbalance, adding to the already distorted world. However, while the editing, done by Yorgos Mavropsaridis, was seamless and the shot changes were well-executed, certain scenes in the latter half of the film could have been trimmed down. Specifically, the scenes involving the brothels in Paris felt exaggerated. I mean, at one point, I was really thinking, 바카라˜We get it; Emma Stone is unafraid of being naked in front of the cameras.바카라™
Not to forget, the musical score composed by Jerskin Fendrix has not been thrown in-between for no reason. The unsettling music, dramatic string compositions, and beautiful violin tunes all contribute to enhancing the movie바카라™s tone. Additional brownie points must be given to Holly Waddington for her excellent taste in fashion. It바카라™s almost as if Bella바카라™s growth was also subtly shown by the clothes she donned, each more fancy than the previous. And the exceptional production design from Shona Heath and James Price? Wow! They created an atmosphere akin to a fairytale (not the Disney kind), unfolding right in front of our eyes.
This Lanthimos-directed film stands out as a strange cinematic masterpiece. It바카라™s no surprise that his films typically involve surrealism, dark humour, and an unconventional storytelling approach, which has been shown in this film as well. Despite the abundance of events in the film, the narrative remains focused on the essential theme, making it a beautiful piece of adaptation.
바카라˜Poor Things바카라™: Cast & Crew
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Jerrod Carmichael
Available On: Disney+ Hotstar
Duration: 2 hours 21 minutes
Premiere Date: March 7, 2024
Genre: Science fiction, Drama, Comedy
Language: English
바카라˜Poor Things바카라™: Can Kids Watch It?
No.
Outlook바카라™s Verdict
I delved into the film with zero idea about it, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised and genuinely moved. The collaboration between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos will not leave you disappointed. I was left amazed and I loved it. 바카라˜Poor Things바카라™ may not be everyone바카라™s cup of tea, but it바카라™s undeniably a must-watch.
