I found your comments on the third act very interesting because it perfectly captured my experience -- the first time watching. It felt like a plateau jad been reached. But, on second viewing, it actually really worked for me. It felt like Bella's journey was complete, but the one thing she lacked was a history - so she goes looking for it, ro discover who she/her mother was, to understand the life that women were pigeonholed into and the tumult it came with. The cruelty of the general that Victoria embraced, the self loathing, the lack of options. Why did she end up on that bridge. And the second time round, I felt the darkness. The general seems truly monstrous in a film full of monsters. And Bella is able to comfront the monster at the heart ofthe maze in a way Victoria couldn't. I'm not sure how well worded this is but my point is it felt like coming full circle and totally worked for me in a way it didn't watch on first watch. Great review as always, you're the best in the game.
If Willem DaFoe doesn't win an Oscar after 40 years of hustling, and a brilliant performance in a Best Picture Frontrunner than We riot. This man ks the most fearless, consistent, and talented working actor we have. I would argue no one today has his filmography because hes fearless in the roles he always chooses and really brings out the character's humanity because he grew up in the theather. Point is GIVE HIM ALL THE AWARDS
@@yashnigam6 Exactly. Bet Willem doesn't give a fck. It's soooo weird that fans of celebrities take things so personal. Like their life will be empty if an favorite actor doesn't get a dumb award.... 😆
Good for Emma Stone. After starting out as a routine Hollywood actress in Easy A and The Amazing Spider-Man, she could've just continued with typical Hollywood roles but ever since Birdman in 2014, she's really taken chances with more independent projects and has really evolved as an actress similar to how Elizabeth Taylor did with darker, more mature roles as she became an adult.
Very well spoken and articulated! I fell in love with this film and avoided all trailers and promotional material to an extreme degree and I'm glad I did. You definitely opened my eyes up to more than what I experienced on my first watch so thank you (seeing it again this weekend and couldn't be more excited and hope you get a chance too as well!)
I loved it. It has a debauched 19th century, ex-machina vibe to it in beautiful colors. She's taking everything in and will eventually turn out the lights. Good stuff.
This is my most anticipated film of the year!! I've been watching your reviews in the past month after a friend recommended your channel to me and I have to say you have a way of articulating your criticisms and insights that's better than most critics I've seen. Your passion is evident and your intelligence shines through - it inspires me to analyse the stuff I love and hate beyond a surface level. Keep up the amazing work! ❤
I find it odd that Bella is a child in a woman's body....predatory manipulation of innocence. And look at the image on the book cover ( man with children on his lap).
i don't mean this in a snarky way but that's literally one of the main themes in the film. yes, it's odd, but not much odder than the real life obsession men have with youth/naivety in women. I'm just glad that we finally have a movie willing to speak about it
@@jon.meisterhonestly the movie doesn't seem to challenge or critic that perversion, I would say that is either almost the opposite or it ignores the problem at best. In the end, Emma Stone's character married to the same guy who engaged to her when she was barely a toddler.
@@davidvalero8275 But she was first betrothed to keep her in the house. She rejected that proposition right away to have her adventure, and proposed to him after she matured into an independent woman, understanding it's a practical love. She also left him at the altar to find out more about her past. In the end she brought her lover to stay with her, and it was not clear if she ever got married Max. She is always in control and makes her decisions. The context matters.
@davidvalero8275 I agree. To me, this idea that she had agency is a farse. She still is a child whose abuse is forgiven because they've thrown an over sexualization on her part. A kid who knows how to masturbate remains a kid that needs to be nurtured, not exploited
@@jon.meister men being obsessed with youth/naivety in women is hardly anything new in cinema, it's practically everywhere, even tv shows like Two and a Half Men speak about men's obsession with women's youth/naivety and I'd say that Two and a Half Men does the critique better, it even shows Charlie at some point rejecting the young woman and wanting a more mature woman who is not an airhead
I paused your video early to say that you just earned yourself a VERY enthusiastic new subscriber for mentioning the parallels with The Yellow Wallpaper. You are the only person who I've heard bring it up and if I talk about it IRL when discussing the film, others are not familiar with the story. I cannot WAIT to hear the rest of your thoughts on this exceptional film and see what other content you have! Already a fan! Greetings from New York ❤
I think its a bit reductive to call this a feminist film personally. It explored female reality, which is some ways will show feminist topics of course but i dont think it was trying to make a point, the film, like Bella, was just exploring, so its realistic to see the experience of being a woman without the need to see some feminist point being made, or some man to rise to the occasion...? Its also funnier the way it was, i think it would start to feel preachy otherwise. thats just me tho
As far as I'm concerned, you're easily the best reviewer out there. After I saw this brilliant film I came straight to your channel and wasn't disappointed.
Maggie, I have enjoyed and followed your reviews for ten years now, but sadly having watched this movie a few days ago I seem to have taken a different message and meaning from Poor Things. The character played by Willem Dafoe I found to be sympathetic and definitely displayed his love as an adoptive father (from my own experience) for the character of Bella. Sadly I did not see the feminist narrative, except in a modern day pervasion of that feminist narrative. Overwhelmingly as the movie progressed I became more and more uncomfortable with the clear message being pushed about the grooming and sexual exploitation of a ten year old to twelve year old girl. I felt like one of the Germans that had witnessed the opening of the Ark of the Covenant. This is clearly a film promoting Pedophilia and was not subtle. The point where an emaciated Emma Stone was tied up in a brothel scene and subjected Kinbaku was without doubt perverse. Emma Stone has been one of my favourite actresses since I first remember seeing her in Superbad (2007), when she played a delightful and attractive young woman. I thought that she was great in Zombiland and I even enjoyed her performance in La La Land. Sadly I did not see the character that you described in your review, instead I witnessed a child who was abused and manipulated, separated from the Willem Dafoe character who loved protected and sheltered her and then subjected to manipulation and sexual exploitation. Perhaps because I am in England where we have had the experience of hundreds of thousands of girls from the age of 10 years old groomed and raped for twenty five years with the complete approval of the government, police and social services that I see this movie in a completely different light. Although based upon the novel by Alasdair Gray, this film appeared to be a terrible attempt to visualise a third rate version of an Alan Moore comic book, if it had been in the hands of a director such as Zack Snyder maybe it could have been saved.
It’s hard to explain because it doesn’t make sense or have a point. It’s a curiosity and interesting but by no means a great movie. It pretends profundity but misses the mark by quite a distance.
Just got out of the theater and absolutely loved it! Wanted to hear what others thought and was happy to see you discussed it because I really enjoyed your Videodrome commentary I watched forever ago. Finally subbed and I look forward to more of your reviews!
thank you so much for mentioning 'possession' and relating it to where emma stone might be with this. i had distanced myself from this channel for admittedly flimsy reasons of disagreeing with some core points but my revisit has honestly pleased me so much, thank you so much for allowing me to rediscover a critic that i should be prepared not to meet with consistently but to enjoy the depth and similar standpoints that i often find myself at. nice one.
They showed the preview at every movie I saw at the Alamo Drafthouse (SF) for the last month before it arrived, and I was entranced. So I saw it, and loved it; so many great performances in it! Hard to characterize, but you did a great job in that!
I found the movie to be interesting - I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I do like the fact that it makes you think due to the ideas being explored and the relationships that play out. I wish we had seen more of her interacting with Astley actually - he was the one male who found her interesting and tried to challenge her viewpoints without trying to sleep with her. I also would have loved to see more of her exploration of the world versus having the main emphasis be on her sexual awakening - I loved the scene where she was just exploring that city and taking it all in.
- the most memorable film from last year. - this movie would be a great double bill with "The City of Lost Children" - amazing to see how Emma Stone's career got to this point: stunning doesn't even cover it regarding her performance here - those costumes and sets were to die for - Bella Baxter is a fully realized woman as she sits there contently in the film's final frame
I just watched this movie tonight and I loved it. Just well shot, well paced, and well acted. All of the actors gave some great nuanced performances, and the surreal concepts explored were great. I also like the exploration of characters here and just the logical progression of her actions. But yeah definitely a must see with a heavy mature rating lol, but it was great.
Big Yorgos fan, easily my favorite director who’s appeared on the scene the decade. His absurdism tackling painful subjects with dead pan automaton humor and disjointed almost “Becket-ian” dialogue really hits the spot with me. I don’t know much about the film, I’ve just seen a clip, but what I quickly glimpsed looks looks ETA Hoffman influenced who is one of my favorite writers. Really looking forward to this film
After I heard your opinion of Ruffalo's character, I went into it expecting to not like him. However, I found his character absolutely hilarious and pathetic. In general, I was impressed that most of the American actors played English and Irish characters that could've easily been given to English and Irish actors and everyone, especially Kathryn Hunter, was incredible. I found it particularly funny that Bella started out with an American accent and slowly developed her English accent as she learned more. Easily the best of '23 for me. I see that Stone is already going to be in Lamthimos' next two projects. She obviously has become his muse. I can't wait. I'd actually like to see him work with Farrell again as well.
It's not the only way, but unfortunately for certain women who look a certain way, the way you are perceived is hard to escape, as is common. And I think this film captured that quite realistically.
I think a lot of men still underestimate female intelligence. What many don't realize is that we hold up half the sky. We are the yin to the yang. Different but equal. Mankind will never evolve until Womankind manifests that equality.
It’s not that sex is the only way women can experience the world it’s that society demands that women conform their attitudes to sex to a prescribed standard and behaviour. Why is there a special word for women’s sexual desire (nymphomania) and the real belief in some Victorian medical circles that women enjoying sex was “ hysteria” a condition that had to be treated and cured. That being said I think this film is so much more than Bella’s exploration of her sexuality.
I had not heard of this director before watching this film, but after watching it, I will seek out everything he's done because his work is so unique and refreshing. I absolutely adored it.
Honestly, this film wasn’t my cup of tea. I found the whole trope about women seeking liberation through sex kinda redundant in my opinion. It would be nice to see a film about feminism without sex. This film was too perverse to be rated R. Hard pass.
Not my kind of flick, but I am here for your reviews! keep up the good work, and happy holidays to you, your family, and the other youtube commenters. :)
The Lobster prompted such visceral repulsion in me that I can't bring myself to watch any of Lanthimos's other films. But he's a striking filmmaker I do always appreciate Maggie's reviews. Happy holidays to you too!
I didn't really care for The Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer personally. The Favourite was a total turning point though. It's just one of my absolute favorite movies now. I am just now seeing this and I adored it. I was a little perplexed at the third act, but I'll have to give it a rewatch and it's still brilliant. As long as you aren't adverse to casual sex scenes, this movie is actually quite uplifting...for a YL film
Poor Things is Anti-Barbie. Bella is a better Weird Barbie. Ken is more likeable than Duncan for sure. Swingy is a darker version of Ruth Handler. Godwin is more relatable than Will Farrell’s CEO.
I’ve never seen an actor command such a range of accents ……in one film.His dialogue (presumably not his fault) from Victorian Aristocrat to 90’s US high-school Kid! Would it be an idea for someone else to look over this guys scripts?
I think the critique of the film's somewhat one-sided feminism (or neo-feminism) is right on the money: i.e. that it offers a monochromatic view of men, whereas a more nuanced work would depict Bella meeting her match in a male and thereafter growing as a result. One suspicion I have is this shortsightedness may be due to the fact that the film was written and directed by men, and moreover based on a novel also by a male. Of course, male artists can perceptive on women, but too often when they put on their feminist thinking caps, out of misplaced good will, they fall back on reductive tropes: women gain autonomy and emancipation by learning to outgrow men, who are all in turn revealed to be parasitic and abusive scum. That sort of view is not only insulting, but also unhelpful -- to women. Maybe it takes a female artist-filmmaker-storyteller, who has had to negotiate relationships with men, to work out a more nuanced view. For all her flaws, Jane Campion has often done just that: ironically, she did once with one of this film's stars, i.e. Mark Ruffalo in In the Cut (an artistically inferior film, but also a more ideologically challenging one).
"Poor things" thinks women gain autonomy and emancipation through sexual relationships with men, i.e., women need men to become empowered. I don't understand why so few female critics are picking up on this male idea of feminism. Are they afraid of not appearing sex-positive and progressive enough if they say the movie has a problematic message?
Poor Things is like the Terry Gilliam/Stanley Kubrick version of Barbie. This movie was amazing in so many ways. But it fell short in that almost every male character merely served as a device to illustrate an aspect of Bella's character or character arc/change. The only exception being her father.
Loved this film as well! Saw it back in early November before the SAG Strike ended. Thought of the film a great deal since and what you say about Bella having an equal in a male partner - great point!
Well I was already really excited about seeing this but now that it’s Maggie approved, I’m fucking ecstatic!! By the way was also curious if you had any plans on reviewing Hayao Miyazaki’s new film The Boy and the Heron? Saw it and thought it was really wonderful, and was very interested in hearing your thoughts
Yes, I try to go in unbiased, but watching "Maestro" last week after seeing DFL's review I kept thinking, "Damn, she was on point!" Glad to see so many thumbs up for "Poor Things," including DFL's.
This movie is already overrated in my opinion. While the overall artistic look of the movie was unique and there are some funny scenes, the characters were just ok. If Emma Stone wins an Oscar for this role it will be on par with Denzel Washington winning an Oscar for Training Day. In the end there are far too many graphic sex scenes for this to be considered an intelligently written movie. A good writer would know how to convey scenarios like that without making the audience feel like they're watching a soft core porn. That being said, Willem Dafoe is probably the only stand out performance in my opinion.
Thank you for this review and loving your own insights into everything absurd yet succinct about Poor Things. My current core memory is watching it with a packed house and everyone being glued into every second of it and loving every single joke. One of my favorite cinema experiences of all time.
My expectations rendered so low by the pap in theatres, I was in awe of the artistic brilliance of this film. The theme was incredibly brave, brilliant and felt utterly comfortable. Loved your review. My question is why the necessity of "sense of darkness" in the 3rd act. Bella closes her "childhood," finally reaches her early "adult" self and leaves audience wondering where her long life will lead.
This film was such a reductive and derivative take on female liberation. I’m shocked you didn’t see how it was coded in pleasing the male gaze. Ugh- it’s so disappointing. And yet, give people candy coated style and sheen and you can forget the real story.
This is the 4th of February 1:18am and I've just finished watching Poor Things. Every actor's and actress's dream movie to participate on for real, you are 100% accurate on this take Maggie. What a work of art of a movie. The sets and the ocean of subjects in it, the dark humor, the shocks and sometimes the wonders, the magnificent acting of absolutely everyone. Poor Things and Holdovers go directly to my top 30 favorites of all time, dethroning some as time casualties. Movies do age badly. Editing just to say, great movies are back boys and girls!! Slowly and crawling like creatures in the night but, there is a solid hope after all.
I knew you were gonna love this one. This is the film of the year for me. I'm already primed to love everything Yorgos Lanthimos ever does, but this was just on a whole other level. I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of his earlier films, particularly Dogtooth!
Brilliant review. You liked it more than I did but you make some salient points about its virtues. I think there’s 2/3 of a good movie here but it didn’t land for me, which left a sour taste. I’m surprised you found it a counterpoint to “shallow feminism” in film (or however you put it) because one of my critiques is that its themes felt an inch deep, offering more food for thought than a full meal. I left the movie hungry but not wanting seconds. It reminds me of a puffed bag of chips apparently ready to burst until you open it and find mostly air.
I'd call it a masterclass in film making. Emma will bag an Oscar. I hope. Such a great performance Bella baxter is such a great character Mark ruffalo was hilarious Defoe Nuff said The cinematography was outstanding , some of the shot are seared into my mind
Stunning cinema. Overwhelmed me totally. Rarely give a 10/10 each year but this grabbed the points already. My sixth film this year and loved it after some early dross films.
Liked your review but for me, 'Poor Things' felt like style over substance, anything but profound. Emma Stone was really good but loud, over the top does not necessarily mean great performance. Her discovery of the plight of poor people and subsequent reaction felt forced. I just wish her character had more depth. Also ending could have been better.
Thanks for this great review!! I was looking for a woman's perspective because I feel like the male reviewers I follow really shied away from talking about the sexual aspects of the film and the feminist themes...
All this talk about feminism and calling Bella a woman etc when she’s literally a child is borderline pushing pedophelia. She’s an infant and within several months she somehow has the development of a teenager awhile being an infant
Agreed! Excellent! Yorgos never fails. Now do Godzilla (and see it in IMAX). As a nuanced filmgoer myself, who avoids major blockbusters, I cannot recommend Godzilla Minus One enough. An unexpectedly PROFOUND experience
I want to watch this but honestly I hate Mark Ruffalo 110% .. not just his obnoxious political views but just the way he acts & looks in every movie (& life)... Also I didn't like The Lobster at all so I've put off watching anything by this director.. I started Sacred Deer & stopped because it felt just as boring, pointless & pretentious as The Lobster Good review like usual
@@M.H.I.A.F.T. If someone thinks a film is pretentious that doesn't mean they can't separate art from artist. Can't it simply mean they think it's pretentious?
I completely agree with your critiques that 1) her journey kinda plateaus in the third act and that stage and that stage of journey just doesn't feel as well-explored or fleshed-out and 2) she more or less totally runs over all the men in the film in an intellectual sense, and it would've been interesting to see a male character who actually could've stood up to her. You said both of these things a lot better than I could've, bravo.
This movie was an adaptation. I have it as best of 2023. Emma Stone was in this and the Curse in the same year. Everyone involved needs an Oscar. They actually need an award category for role less than support but still impactful like DeFoe’s role here.
Absolutely loved it!!! I have a feeling I’ll like it more with more viewing! The camera work and cinematography is absolutely stellar and soooo Kubrickian
Just watched it and i didn't enjoy the film 😞. Somehow feel guilty for saying that as i really wanted to enjoy it. I just felt like I needed to be heavily invested in psychology to understand the undertones of what was happening. I enjoyed your review though.
Didn't know it's an adaptation, but the movie made me think a lot of Voltaire'a novel Candide. The main story, fantasy elements and satirical tone is very similar. It's like a twisted mashup of it and The House That Jack Built. Agreed with the third act being a slight let down.
Feminism? Respectfully, I think the movie has nothing to do with feminism. First off, I agree that it is a brilliant movie. But I contend that you've watched it through the eyes of a woman. I would suggest that if you rewatch it through a man's eyes and you may have reactions like I did - literally bursting out with laughter in the theater at the strangest times. While I think the movie has about six different levels of messaging, I think it's worth recalling that the book was written by a Scotsman, and the film was written and directed by a man as well. I would recommend rewatching it recognizing the following as one of the core premises -- If you install an infant's brain into the body of a full-grown woman she will act and behave exactly like a prototypical man. The common feedback I hear about the movie is shock. In fact, I heard gasps from women in the audience. But realize that the things that Bella says and does that shock the senses are actually things that virtually every man has said and done as they evolved from adolescent to self-actualized adult. Bella (forget for a moment that it's a female's body) is not constrained and forced through the process of socialization that inhibits women and girls. God(win) gives her this ability to avoid being suppressed by the men around her by having this childlike inquisitiveness and the inhibition only afforded to men. God gave Bella to the world to teach men a lesson of sorts. Bella is a mirror that these men peer into that forces them to learn, accept, transform or be emasculated and possibly self-destruct or perish. Let's face it, men often speak and act in ways that should be socially unacceptable and the brilliance of the movie is that the author and the director show men how astonished and embarrassed at their own behavior they should be because they are forced to confront it thru Bella. God created Bella and then selflessly sent her out into the world to learn, adapt, mature, gain wisdom so that she can carry on his teachings. Anyway, please let us know if you rewatch it because I think there are so many more levels to the movie and it can be explored for days and days.
Yeah but challenging gender roles is a trope used in feminist films. The film displays how the more chauvinistic men in the film end up as obstacles for Bella since they do not like her exercising her sovereignty as a person. Feminism isn't just "men suck"
Bro are you for real? "She acts like a man"? This entire movie is an Insta-thot's stories reel. What man gets to travel the world, not work, and get paid for endless amounts of sex? "A baby's brain in a full grown woman's body" = yeah, that's called the modern woman bud. This movie really isn't as good as all the art house stans say it is. I'll give it credit for a lot of things, but the story isn't one of them.
Can we talk about sadism of Godwin’s father and insane level of trauma he underwent at his hands, how that trauma shaped him into who he is in the film. Also the symbolism of him “burping” small planet-Earths into brief existence after each meal?
I saw the movvie this last week and I have to say.... I don't remember how it ends. Yes, the last part falls short ofthe promises of first part. Still.... This is not a movie, this is cinema, something rare in these times.
I love your reviews, there so authentic and really elaborated on a psychological analytical level. I feel that you love talking about movies, it is so nice. Your are an awesome human being, thank you for your work and time ❤
I saw _Kinds of Kindness_ before I saw this, just ten minutes ago, and I just came here to say "I get it", this was a brilliant film all over. Emma Stone really did the thing. Jesus!
I think you're about the third act, if by that you mean the chapter "Alexandria". Maybe the transition needed just a few minutes more to really sink in.
I love your review for this movie it really put some things into perspective for me and now I look at it in a different way and I appreciate that thank you
The fisheye lens shots, the rigid/mechanical pans, the closeup portraits of the main characters, some quick zooms for dramatic and comedic effect... A truly delightful visual experience that did a fantastic job in maximizing the possibilities of the medium and accentuating the surrealism and themes of the film.
I came out of the cinema a few hours ago and I just knew you would like this one! Great review as always, I wish I could hear you discuss more of the feminism aspects of the film as well as the third act and the ending.
This doesn't sound very promising. Maybe films that attempt to dive into feminist politics would be entertaining if anybody who directed one was ever saying anything interesting about it. But this is almost never the case, unfortunately, because the filmmaker never seems to have actually bothered to think about the topic with any seriousness or they're afraid to introduce nuance or uncertainty because they open themselves up to the possibility of being suspected of thought crime or ideological heresy or whatever. We're always just getting boilerplate empty sloganeering, not analysis or insight. This is especially true for male directors. It has something to do with our culture and where we are in history, I guess. What you typically get in a feminist film directed by a man is what you find in a film like Men. It's always some variation on the "myth of the one good man." Basically, every guy thinks he's the only decent guy on the planet and that it's his job to save women from all the other bad guy men, which he's going to do with his film apparently. That's why he's special. The obvious irony here is that this conception of women as damsels and men as heroes (or "allies") that save them or villains that menace them is the basic assumption behind the very traditional patriarchy of yore that he's ostensibly complaining about. It never occurs to the super sophisticated and morally superior director who is mustering all his courage to tell us how bad he thinks oppression is. F*cking hell, lol. It's like, his feminist film doesn't actually threaten the patriarchy or its assumptions, but is in fact a product of those very assumptions. He's literally endorsing the basic moral foundation of patriarchy while under the impression that he's challenging it. I mean c'mon. This is hardly an esoteric brain melting insight. To have missed this, you couldn't have thought seriously or critically about feminism at any point in your life, regardless of what side of the debate you landed on. Nobody of average intelligence is this confused about it. That's not possible. It's like a grown man, usually in middle age, who still thinks the cheerleader will choose him over the jock bully he hates because he alone understands her. lol. It's beyond cringe. Neil LaBute does this, for instance. The mark of his sincerity and sophistication is the degree to which he can vomit up his own pathological loathing, which is especially deep and super meaningful if he aims it at himself (of course). What do we learn from this? That the director is a good person and that women should approve of him? Was that the point of these movies? Because I'm not seeing any other point to them. Maybe this is a good movie -- I suppose it's possible that somebody actually makes a feminist film worth seeing for once -- but I'm honestly tempted to skip it. It's exhausting. I'm also getting "if you don't like this movie, you're against sex positivity" vibes from culture war damaged people, as if it's not possible to make a shitty movie that is pro sex or something. And since when is sex positivity a subversive message that anyone needed to hear anyway? You'd have to go back literally decades. I'm pretty sure I would disagree with the perspective of any sex negative person, but the prospect of a film made by one is at least a lot more interesting than yet another movie where we get to hear about how great the current thing we're all supposed to already agree with is.
Reminds me of Beau is Afraid in how I ultimately feel about it after mulling it over: I admire it more than I like it, but that's not to say I don't like it.
The clue to this films adaptation of Alasdair Gray's book, is the Blessington characters monologue on the cruise ship. Life is meaningless and humans are monsters. By the end of the film... Bella is content to be the metaphorical, and literal monster she knows she is. Not to help humanity, but to experiment on it. The core of the film is that humans are irredeemable. That's why the 'happy ending' is so unsettling. It is the quietude in the garden of utter madness. *Most men believed 'fully grown women' were still 'internally' infantile children. See Schopenhauer's ( now infamous, yet then taken as empirically valid ) 1851 'On Women' essay. This is literally the case with Bella. But the film asks the viewer... what happens if the child grows up? Although not to a happy resolution, a fairytale conclusion, but to fully realise humans were never benign to begin with. To understand that, only the veneer of societal conditioning, disguises what humans truly are. To help hide the fact, humans invent fabulous illusionary stories about themselves. That they're nothing but flightless angels. This film isn't about feminism, it is about how women wish to distance themselves, from men, in order to disown the inner monster within both of them.
I felt this movie is fun to compare with three movies with similar themes: 1) Taken: In that Poor Things is the exact opposite of it - the father allows his daughter to be kidnapped and then the daughter willfully chooses the brothel and gets through it on her own and comes out of it a stronger happier person 2) Regarding Henry: Another story where an adult becomes child-like and experiences the cruelty of the adult world and his wife prefers the child-like Henry to the original! 3) Big: A weird twist where the child chooses to be in adult form to enjoy adult privilege , finds the price overwhelming because, well I guess this kid isn't a genius or is easily fazed like Bella, and choose to go back to kid form.
Appreciated the previous two films from Lanthimos, but Dogtooth/The Lobster had terrible executions despite interesting ideas. Not sure if I’ll ever be interested enough to watch Alps, or if Poor Things is in my wheelhouse. Definitely will wait to rent his newest work. Ever see Orlando, w/ Tilda Swinton? 30 years on, she still amazes me w/ that performance.
Zulawski's 'Possession' is one of my favs, and Emma Stone has grown on me since 'Birdman' and 'The Favourite.' She has a weird energy that the camera instinctively devours. (Jeanne Moreau, Barbara Stanwyck, Monica Vitti, Bette Davis, etc. all had it.) Haven't seen this 'Poor Things' yet, but I love Lanthimos's other films - especially 'Alps' (my favorite of his) and 'The Lobster.' Your ambivalent views on feminism remind me of Camille Paglia's - a brilliant writer. "Man rules the world, and woman rules man." Willem Dafoe, like Lanthimos, is always fascinating (they can't help it). It seems to me that the only frontier left for feminism is a reverse one, a reclaiming of the past, where woman's elemental power is so much more self-evident than her contemporary "equal footing" political competition with men. The face that launched a thousand ships did not belong to AOC.
Virtuoso direction and a virtuoso performance by Emma Stone cannot completely convince this viewer of the film's greatness. A curious hotchpotch amalgam of films as diverse as Being John Malkovich, The Wizard of Oz, The Enigma of Kasper Hauser, The Elephant Man and Breaking The Waves, this supposed literate and bold reimagining of Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel abandons the Glaswegian perspective of postmodern pastiche and a blackly comic view of the quaint ways of the Victorian-era British Empire and substitutes it with a female rites-of-passage story of sorts for baby-brained and adult bodied Bella Baxter whilst targeting polite society and male chauvinism as obstacles in her path. Despite the film's relish at dealing with such meaty fantasy source material, the very nature of the material itself (and it seems its interpretation) cannot hide its mean-spiritedness, anger, cruelty and jaundiced cynicism that tries to pass itself off as 21st century enlightened wisdom over the obvious mistakes of centuries past and presenting itself as a black comedy. On the positive side, the decision to focus on the story of empowerment embodied by Bella does provide the metaphorical possibilities of imagining identity which garners considerable empathy and political import. Still, it's not so much wildly entertaining as simply wild, undisciplined and too eager to follow the childlike instincts of the main character without considering their narrative significance. The film seems too in love with its eccentricity to formalise something truly substantial. For someone who has seen all those films mentioned earlier (and all infinitely superior), I am still wondering whether I am meant to be placed as a viewer much like the main character, eager to be pleased by the momentary pleasure of sex or masturbation, put my child's brain in my adult head in order to engage or to laugh mockingly and pity these 'poor things' from an assumed superior contemporary point of view of I don't know what. An intermittently compelling and infuriating mess.
Thank you. I can't believe people making me feel narrow-minded while they enjoy being "artistic". There is a distasteful & unfair irony somewhere. Unbelievable. A 5 year-old losing her innocence through sexual urges & men taking advantage of her underdeveloped brain. What are we even talking about?
Not at all, people have creative alternatives for the word pedophilia.. but our "uncomfortable " feelings will be misconstrued as prude or not understanding the "art" of it..😶
I left the theater jokingly saying it’s a masterpiece, but immediately questioned maybe it is lol. The multi-currents like slapstick, matter-of-fact dialogue, ridiculous nature, magical realism, Rococo, etc, allow the viewer to engage in topics that might trigger some people. We are suspended in it’s absurdity and that’s non-threatening. Forgiveness is a superpower and frees one of shame’s prison. Maybe not a Fool triumphant story, but love triumphant?
I don't see it as wrong not to shout out your kinks at work or at the dinner table. It doesn't mean you are unhealthy and repressed. It means you care enough about others not to make them feel uncomfortable. Good manners are about being unselfish.
I’m drawn to you as a film critic because you express your ideas in extremely eloquent and masterful ways. When we agree on a film, I feel like you articulate exactly what I felt about that film precisely. But, in watching a few of your reviews it does seem clear to me that you value thematics and density much more than you do narrative or story. Poor Things, for me, didn’t offer up anything profound AT ALL. She is coming of age and wants to explore her sexuality… okay… what else? For me, that is wafer thin. And it’s essentially what the whole film is about. The story doesn’t hold anything of value to me. I say this because I watched your Fight Club review also and you were wanting for something more profound to be said/stated. Films for me, although they can be enlightening, are ultimately a medium of entertainment. And watching Emma Stone get boinked by perverted old men over and over again isn’t something I tend to enjoy 😂 How are you supposed to feel walking away from a film like this? Genuinely curious. I clocked what it was about in the opening minutes of the film so to hammer the audience over the head with the concept again and again but taking them to new locations and changing the colour palette from black and white to vivid colour is not inspired, to me anyway.
I found your comments on the third act very interesting because it perfectly captured my experience -- the first time watching. It felt like a plateau jad been reached. But, on second viewing, it actually really worked for me. It felt like Bella's journey was complete, but the one thing she lacked was a history - so she goes looking for it, ro discover who she/her mother was, to understand the life that women were pigeonholed into and the tumult it came with. The cruelty of the general that Victoria embraced, the self loathing, the lack of options. Why did she end up on that bridge. And the second time round, I felt the darkness. The general seems truly monstrous in a film full of monsters. And Bella is able to comfront the monster at the heart ofthe maze in a way Victoria couldn't. I'm not sure how well worded this is but my point is it felt like coming full circle and totally worked for me in a way it didn't watch on first watch.
Great review as always, you're the best in the game.
If Willem DaFoe doesn't win an Oscar after 40 years of hustling, and a brilliant performance in a Best Picture Frontrunner than We riot. This man ks the most fearless, consistent, and talented working actor we have. I would argue no one today has his filmography because hes fearless in the roles he always chooses and really brings out the character's humanity because he grew up in the theather. Point is GIVE HIM ALL THE AWARDS
It seems like they're pushing Mark Ruffalo for the Supporting performance categories so I'm not sure it's his year unfortunately.
And he should begin his speech by saying "You know, I'm something of an Oscar-winner myself."
I liked his performance a lot but I promise you he won’t for this film.
Who gives a shit about the Oscars?
@@yashnigam6 Exactly. Bet Willem doesn't give a fck. It's soooo weird that fans of celebrities take things so personal. Like their life will be empty if an favorite actor doesn't get a dumb award.... 😆
Good for Emma Stone. After starting out as a routine Hollywood actress in Easy A and The Amazing Spider-Man, she could've just continued with typical Hollywood roles but ever since Birdman in 2014, she's really taken chances with more independent projects and has really evolved as an actress similar to how Elizabeth Taylor did with darker, more mature roles as she became an adult.
The trick is to work outside of the Hollywood system.
@@TackJorranceVery few actors have the luxury to "get the big money making projects out of the way".
What about Zombieland?
She's really good in The Curse too
She makes mainstream movies too.
Very well spoken and articulated! I fell in love with this film and avoided all trailers and promotional material to an extreme degree and I'm glad I did. You definitely opened my eyes up to more than what I experienced on my first watch so thank you (seeing it again this weekend and couldn't be more excited and hope you get a chance too as well!)
I loved it. It has a debauched 19th century, ex-machina vibe to it in beautiful colors. She's taking everything in and will eventually turn out the lights. Good stuff.
This is my most anticipated film of the year!! I've been watching your reviews in the past month after a friend recommended your channel to me and I have to say you have a way of articulating your criticisms and insights that's better than most critics I've seen. Your passion is evident and your intelligence shines through - it inspires me to analyse the stuff I love and hate beyond a surface level.
Keep up the amazing work! ❤
I find it odd that Bella is a child in a woman's body....predatory manipulation of innocence. And look at the image on the book cover ( man with children on his lap).
i don't mean this in a snarky way but that's literally one of the main themes in the film.
yes, it's odd, but not much odder than the real life obsession men have with youth/naivety in women. I'm just glad that we finally have a movie willing to speak about it
@@jon.meisterhonestly the movie doesn't seem to challenge or critic that perversion, I would say that is either almost the opposite or it ignores the problem at best.
In the end, Emma Stone's character married to the same guy who engaged to her when she was barely a toddler.
@@davidvalero8275 But she was first betrothed to keep her in the house. She rejected that proposition right away to have her adventure, and proposed to him after she matured into an independent woman, understanding it's a practical love. She also left him at the altar to find out more about her past. In the end she brought her lover to stay with her, and it was not clear if she ever got married Max. She is always in control and makes her decisions. The context matters.
@davidvalero8275 I agree. To me, this idea that she had agency is a farse. She still is a child whose abuse is forgiven because they've thrown an over sexualization on her part. A kid who knows how to masturbate remains a kid that needs to be nurtured, not exploited
@@jon.meister men being obsessed with youth/naivety in women is hardly anything new in cinema, it's practically everywhere, even tv shows like Two and a Half Men speak about men's obsession with women's youth/naivety and I'd say that Two and a Half Men does the critique better, it even shows Charlie at some point rejecting the young woman and wanting a more mature woman who is not an airhead
I paused your video early to say that you just earned yourself a VERY enthusiastic new subscriber for mentioning the parallels with The Yellow Wallpaper. You are the only person who I've heard bring it up and if I talk about it IRL when discussing the film, others are not familiar with the story. I cannot WAIT to hear the rest of your thoughts on this exceptional film and see what other content you have! Already a fan! Greetings from New York ❤
I think its a bit reductive to call this a feminist film personally. It explored female reality, which is some ways will show feminist topics of course but i dont think it was trying to make a point, the film, like Bella, was just exploring, so its realistic to see the experience of being a woman without the need to see some feminist point being made, or some man to rise to the occasion...? Its also funnier the way it was, i think it would start to feel preachy otherwise. thats just me tho
Ah, the problematic third act. I appreciate a filmmaker with a fresh vision so I'll definitely see this movie.
The third act needed so much work. The first two acts were great.👍
As far as I'm concerned, you're easily the best reviewer out there. After I saw this brilliant film I came straight to your channel and wasn't disappointed.
The entry into Yorgos Lanthimos for me was The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was incredible. Looking forward to Poor Things.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is my favorite film of his but I have loved almost all his work. So I'm beyond excited for Poor Things.
That's actually my least fav of his. Dogtooth continues to blow my mind
Killing is actually my least favorite movie of his, but I still very much enjoy it.
I love all of his films. Sacred Deer is my favorite, but I've meaning to revisit Dogtooth. That one's been my number two of his
Maggie, I have enjoyed and followed your reviews for ten years now, but sadly having watched this movie a few days ago I seem to have taken a different message and meaning from Poor Things. The character played by Willem Dafoe I found to be sympathetic and definitely displayed his love as an adoptive father (from my own experience) for the character of Bella. Sadly I did not see the feminist narrative, except in a modern day pervasion of that feminist narrative. Overwhelmingly as the movie progressed I became more and more uncomfortable with the clear message being pushed about the grooming and sexual exploitation of a ten year old to twelve year old girl. I felt like one of the Germans that had witnessed the opening of the Ark of the Covenant. This is clearly a film promoting Pedophilia and was not subtle. The point where an emaciated Emma Stone was tied up in a brothel scene and subjected Kinbaku was without doubt perverse.
Emma Stone has been one of my favourite actresses since I first remember seeing her in Superbad (2007), when she played a delightful and attractive young woman. I thought that she was great in Zombiland and I even enjoyed her performance in La La Land. Sadly I did not see the character that you described in your review, instead I witnessed a child who was abused and manipulated, separated from the Willem Dafoe character who loved protected and sheltered her and then subjected to manipulation and sexual exploitation. Perhaps because I am in England where we have had the experience of hundreds of thousands of girls from the age of 10 years old groomed and raped for twenty five years with the complete approval of the government, police and social services that I see this movie in a completely different light.
Although based upon the novel by Alasdair Gray, this film appeared to be a terrible attempt to visualise a third rate version of an Alan Moore comic book, if it had been in the hands of a director such as Zack Snyder maybe it could have been saved.
Thank you! This was literally a pedo film!
It’s hard to explain because it doesn’t make sense or have a point. It’s a curiosity and interesting but by no means a great movie. It pretends profundity but misses the mark by quite a distance.
Profundity 😂😂😂😂😂
@@djstarsign Yes, it's a word.
Just got out of the theater and absolutely loved it! Wanted to hear what others thought and was happy to see you discussed it because I really enjoyed your Videodrome commentary I watched forever ago. Finally subbed and I look forward to more of your reviews!
thank you so much for mentioning 'possession' and relating it to where emma stone might be with this. i had distanced myself from this channel for admittedly flimsy reasons of disagreeing with some core points but my revisit has honestly pleased me so much, thank you so much for allowing me to rediscover a critic that i should be prepared not to meet with consistently but to enjoy the depth and similar standpoints that i often find myself at. nice one.
They showed the preview at every movie I saw at the Alamo Drafthouse (SF) for the last month before it arrived, and I was entranced. So I saw it, and loved it; so many great performances in it! Hard to characterize, but you did a great job in that!
I found the movie to be interesting - I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I do like the fact that it makes you think due to the ideas being explored and the relationships that play out. I wish we had seen more of her interacting with Astley actually - he was the one male who found her interesting and tried to challenge her viewpoints without trying to sleep with her. I also would have loved to see more of her exploration of the world versus having the main emphasis be on her sexual awakening - I loved the scene where she was just exploring that city and taking it all in.
- the most memorable film from last year.
- this movie would be a great double bill with "The City of Lost Children"
- amazing to see how Emma Stone's career got to this point: stunning doesn't even cover it regarding her performance here
- those costumes and sets were to die for
- Bella Baxter is a fully realized woman as she sits there contently in the film's final frame
Thank you for articulating what’s so great about this movie. You have a talent for breaking down extremely complicated movies.
I just watched this movie tonight and I loved it. Just well shot, well paced, and well acted.
All of the actors gave some great nuanced performances, and the surreal concepts explored were great.
I also like the exploration of characters here and just the logical progression of her actions.
But yeah definitely a must see with a heavy mature rating lol, but it was great.
To be honest, I tend to disagree with some of your reviews, but I see completely eye to eye with you regarding Poor Things. Thanks for the vlog
Big Yorgos fan, easily my favorite director who’s appeared on the scene the decade. His absurdism tackling painful subjects with dead pan automaton humor and disjointed almost “Becket-ian” dialogue really hits the spot with me. I don’t know much about the film, I’ve just seen a clip, but what I quickly glimpsed looks looks ETA Hoffman influenced who is one of my favorite writers. Really looking forward to this film
Really looking forward to this. My favourite Alasdair Gray novel, I was actually at the launch of this book.
After I heard your opinion of Ruffalo's character, I went into it expecting to not like him. However, I found his character absolutely hilarious and pathetic. In general, I was impressed that most of the American actors played English and Irish characters that could've easily been given to English and Irish actors and everyone, especially Kathryn Hunter, was incredible. I found it particularly funny that Bella started out with an American accent and slowly developed her English accent as she learned more.
Easily the best of '23 for me. I see that Stone is already going to be in Lamthimos' next two projects. She obviously has become his muse. I can't wait. I'd actually like to see him work with Farrell again as well.
was her baby female or male? and would it make a difference?
What an interesting perspective, never even considered that 😲
I never thought of that and just presumed it was unborn female baby. Will analyse this next time 8 watch this film as it’s so worth watching again.
"The thing about sex, I think about this all the time! I mean, who doesn't!?" Fair play that made me chuckle 😆. Great review as always.
Yeah I agree too 😅
Unfortunately, I pretty much hated it. I kept thinking is sex the only way a woman can experience the world? Women are way much more than that.
It's not the only way, but unfortunately for certain women who look a certain way, the way you are perceived is hard to escape, as is common. And I think this film captured that quite realistically.
I think a lot of men still underestimate female intelligence. What many don't realize is that we hold up half the sky. We are the yin to the yang. Different but equal. Mankind will never evolve until Womankind manifests that equality.
It’s not that sex is the only way women can experience the world it’s that society demands that women conform their attitudes to sex to a prescribed standard and behaviour. Why is there a special word for women’s sexual desire (nymphomania) and the real belief in some Victorian medical circles that women enjoying sex was “ hysteria” a condition that had to be treated and cured. That being said I think this film is so much more than Bella’s exploration of her sexuality.
I had not heard of this director before watching this film, but after watching it, I will seek out everything he's done because his work is so unique and refreshing. I absolutely adored it.
Honestly, this film wasn’t my cup of tea. I found the whole trope about women seeking liberation through sex kinda redundant in my opinion. It would be nice to see a film about feminism without sex. This film was too perverse to be rated R. Hard pass.
Haven’t seen yet. Honest question. Is it about women seeking sex for liberation, or a woman seeking sex for liberation?
Not my kind of flick, but I am here for your reviews! keep up the good work, and happy holidays to you, your family, and the other youtube commenters. :)
The Lobster prompted such visceral repulsion in me that I can't bring myself to watch any of Lanthimos's other films. But he's a striking filmmaker I do always appreciate Maggie's reviews. Happy holidays to you too!
@@melanie62954 Thanks for letting me know missing "The Lobster" might not be bad. Can't wait to see this one!
I didn't really care for The Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer personally. The Favourite was a total turning point though. It's just one of my absolute favorite movies now. I am just now seeing this and I adored it. I was a little perplexed at the third act, but I'll have to give it a rewatch and it's still brilliant. As long as you aren't adverse to casual sex scenes, this movie is actually quite uplifting...for a YL film
Poor Things is Anti-Barbie.
Bella is a better Weird Barbie.
Ken is more likeable than Duncan for sure.
Swingy is a darker version of Ruth Handler.
Godwin is more relatable than Will Farrell’s CEO.
i always look forward to your reviews. please keep it up. happy new year
I’ve never seen an actor command such a range of accents ……in one film.His dialogue (presumably not his fault) from Victorian Aristocrat to 90’s US high-school Kid! Would it be an idea for someone else to look over this guys scripts?
I think the critique of the film's somewhat one-sided feminism (or neo-feminism) is right on the money: i.e. that it offers a monochromatic view of men, whereas a more nuanced work would depict Bella meeting her match in a male and thereafter growing as a result. One suspicion I have is this shortsightedness may be due to the fact that the film was written and directed by men, and moreover based on a novel also by a male. Of course, male artists can perceptive on women, but too often when they put on their feminist thinking caps, out of misplaced good will, they fall back on reductive tropes: women gain autonomy and emancipation by learning to outgrow men, who are all in turn revealed to be parasitic and abusive scum. That sort of view is not only insulting, but also unhelpful -- to women. Maybe it takes a female artist-filmmaker-storyteller, who has had to negotiate relationships with men, to work out a more nuanced view. For all her flaws, Jane Campion has often done just that: ironically, she did once with one of this film's stars, i.e. Mark Ruffalo in In the Cut (an artistically inferior film, but also a more ideologically challenging one).
"Poor things" thinks women gain autonomy and emancipation through sexual relationships with men, i.e., women need men to become empowered. I don't understand why so few female critics are picking up on this male idea of feminism. Are they afraid of not appearing sex-positive and progressive enough if they say the movie has a problematic message?
@@maryjaneshoe-fm4yr Exactly. Seems obvious. Very surprised this channel didn't get it.
Well said
@@maryjaneshoe-fm4yrI couldn’t agree more!
Poor Things is like the Terry Gilliam/Stanley Kubrick version of Barbie.
This movie was amazing in so many ways. But it fell short in that almost every male character merely served as a device to illustrate an aspect of Bella's character or character arc/change. The only exception being her father.
Loved this film as well! Saw it back in early November before the SAG Strike ended. Thought of the film a great deal since and what you say about Bella having an equal in a male partner - great point!
felt like a cross between wes anderson and lars von trier movie. Loved it!
Well I was already really excited about seeing this but now that it’s Maggie approved, I’m fucking ecstatic!! By the way was also curious if you had any plans on reviewing Hayao Miyazaki’s new film The Boy and the Heron? Saw it and thought it was really wonderful, and was very interested in hearing your thoughts
Yes, I try to go in unbiased, but watching "Maestro" last week after seeing DFL's review I kept thinking, "Damn, she was on point!" Glad to see so many thumbs up for "Poor Things," including DFL's.
This movie is already overrated in my opinion. While the overall artistic look of the movie was unique and there are some funny scenes, the characters were just ok. If Emma Stone wins an Oscar for this role it will be on par with Denzel Washington winning an Oscar for Training Day. In the end there are far too many graphic sex scenes for this to be considered an intelligently written movie. A good writer would know how to convey scenarios like that without making the audience feel like they're watching a soft core porn. That being said, Willem Dafoe is probably the only stand out performance in my opinion.
Thank you for this review and loving your own insights into everything absurd yet succinct about Poor Things.
My current core memory is watching it with a packed house and everyone being glued into every second of it and loving every single joke. One of my favorite cinema experiences of all time.
this is definitely my favorite movie of the year, emma is so good
I love your reviews because you never spoil 👌🏻
My expectations rendered so low by the pap in theatres, I was in awe of the artistic brilliance of this film. The theme was incredibly brave, brilliant and felt utterly comfortable. Loved your review. My question is why the necessity of "sense of darkness" in the 3rd act. Bella closes her "childhood," finally reaches her early "adult" self and leaves audience wondering where her long life will lead.
This film was such a reductive and derivative take on female liberation. I’m shocked you didn’t see how it was coded in pleasing the male gaze. Ugh- it’s so disappointing. And yet, give people candy coated style and sheen and you can forget the real story.
This is the 4th of February 1:18am and I've just finished watching Poor Things. Every actor's and actress's dream movie to participate on for real, you are 100% accurate on this take Maggie. What a work of art of a movie. The sets and the ocean of subjects in it, the dark humor, the shocks and sometimes the wonders, the magnificent acting of absolutely everyone. Poor Things and Holdovers go directly to my top 30 favorites of all time, dethroning some as time casualties. Movies do age badly.
Editing just to say, great movies are back boys and girls!! Slowly and crawling like creatures in the night but, there is a solid hope after all.
I knew you were gonna love this one. This is the film of the year for me. I'm already primed to love everything Yorgos Lanthimos ever does, but this was just on a whole other level.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on some of his earlier films, particularly Dogtooth!
Brilliant review. You liked it more than I did but you make some salient points about its virtues. I think there’s 2/3 of a good movie here but it didn’t land for me, which left a sour taste. I’m surprised you found it a counterpoint to “shallow feminism” in film (or however you put it) because one of my critiques is that its themes felt an inch deep, offering more food for thought than a full meal. I left the movie hungry but not wanting seconds. It reminds me of a puffed bag of chips apparently ready to burst until you open it and find mostly air.
Hahaha, much like Bella's sleeves throughout the film??
I'd call it a masterclass in film making.
Emma will bag an Oscar. I hope. Such a great performance
Bella baxter is such a great character
Mark ruffalo was hilarious
Defoe Nuff said
The cinematography was outstanding , some of the shot are seared into my mind
One of my favorite films in the past decade. Amazing, original, whimsical, witty and beautiful.
Stunning cinema. Overwhelmed me totally. Rarely give a 10/10 each year but this grabbed the points already. My sixth film this year and loved it after some early dross films.
Liked your review but for me, 'Poor Things' felt like style over substance, anything but profound. Emma Stone was really good but loud, over the top does not necessarily mean great performance. Her discovery of the plight of poor people and subsequent reaction felt forced. I just wish her character had more depth. Also ending could have been better.
100% accurate. This was a Faberge Egg of a movie. Glitz on the outside. Empty on the inside.
It was a bit of a fuck fest but performances were GOOD and visuals were enjoyable. Not sure about some of the philosophies in the movie..
Thanks for this great review!! I was looking for a woman's perspective because I feel like the male reviewers I follow really shied away from talking about the sexual aspects of the film and the feminist themes...
Yes they do 😂
so excited to see this! I didn't even know it existed until last week, but I'm a huge Lathimos fan. Hope I like it as much as you!
I just walked out of the theater an hour ago and I absolutely loved this film
Im so glad you enjoyed this. I saw it on my birthday on new years day and i loved it.
All this talk about feminism and calling Bella a woman etc when she’s literally a child is borderline pushing pedophelia.
She’s an infant and within several months she somehow has the development of a teenager awhile being an infant
Agreed! Excellent! Yorgos never fails. Now do Godzilla (and see it in IMAX). As a nuanced filmgoer myself, who avoids major blockbusters, I cannot recommend Godzilla Minus One enough. An unexpectedly PROFOUND experience
Great review, ur capability of talking so much about a movie but still avoiding spoilers is great.
I want to watch this but honestly I hate Mark Ruffalo 110% .. not just his obnoxious political views but just the way he acts & looks in every movie (& life)... Also I didn't like The Lobster at all so I've put off watching anything by this director.. I started Sacred Deer & stopped because it felt just as boring, pointless & pretentious as The Lobster
Good review like usual
@Soractral What obnoxious views? Not liking Trump? And can't you separate art from artist?
@@M.H.I.A.F.T. If someone thinks a film is pretentious that doesn't mean they can't separate art from artist. Can't it simply mean they think it's pretentious?
the portrayal of sex work was pretty lackluster in my opinion, for me this is the only bit that didn’t land from the movie.
In relation to your comments on feminism and sexuality, what do you think of the Fifty Shades trilogy?
I completely agree with your critiques that 1) her journey kinda plateaus in the third act and that stage and that stage of journey just doesn't feel as well-explored or fleshed-out and 2) she more or less totally runs over all the men in the film in an intellectual sense, and it would've been interesting to see a male character who actually could've stood up to her. You said both of these things a lot better than I could've, bravo.
Possibly your best review imo.
This movie was an adaptation. I have it as best of 2023. Emma Stone was in this and the Curse in the same year. Everyone involved needs an Oscar. They actually need an award category for role less than support but still impactful like DeFoe’s role here.
Absolutely loved it!!! I have a feeling I’ll like it more with more viewing! The camera work and cinematography is absolutely stellar and soooo Kubrickian
Just watched it and i didn't enjoy the film 😞. Somehow feel guilty for saying that as i really wanted to enjoy it. I just felt like I needed to be heavily invested in psychology to understand the undertones of what was happening. I enjoyed your review though.
Didn't know it's an adaptation, but the movie made me think a lot of Voltaire'a novel Candide. The main story, fantasy elements and satirical tone is very similar. It's like a twisted mashup of it and The House That Jack Built. Agreed with the third act being a slight let down.
Didn’t love the movie, but enjoyed your review! Love your down-to-earth style
Can't wait for yr review of Godzilla Minus One!
Feminism? Respectfully, I think the movie has nothing to do with feminism. First off, I agree that it is a brilliant movie. But I contend that you've watched it through the eyes of a woman. I would suggest that if you rewatch it through a man's eyes and you may have reactions like I did - literally bursting out with laughter in the theater at the strangest times. While I think the movie has about six different levels of messaging, I think it's worth recalling that the book was written by a Scotsman, and the film was written and directed by a man as well. I would recommend rewatching it recognizing the following as one of the core premises -- If you install an infant's brain into the body of a full-grown woman she will act and behave exactly like a prototypical man. The common feedback I hear about the movie is shock. In fact, I heard gasps from women in the audience. But realize that the things that Bella says and does that shock the senses are actually things that virtually every man has said and done as they evolved from adolescent to self-actualized adult. Bella (forget for a moment that it's a female's body) is not constrained and forced through the process of socialization that inhibits women and girls. God(win) gives her this ability to avoid being suppressed by the men around her by having this childlike inquisitiveness and the inhibition only afforded to men. God gave Bella to the world to teach men a lesson of sorts. Bella is a mirror that these men peer into that forces them to learn, accept, transform or be emasculated and possibly self-destruct or perish. Let's face it, men often speak and act in ways that should be socially unacceptable and the brilliance of the movie is that the author and the director show men how astonished and embarrassed at their own behavior they should be because they are forced to confront it thru Bella. God created Bella and then selflessly sent her out into the world to learn, adapt, mature, gain wisdom so that she can carry on his teachings. Anyway, please let us know if you rewatch it because I think there are so many more levels to the movie and it can be explored for days and days.
I loveeee this comment thank u
@@roxylava6627 Thank you so much, I hope it sweeps the Oscars!
If you’re a man and defending this garbage, tells me everything I need to know. 🤮
Yeah but challenging gender roles is a trope used in feminist films. The film displays how the more chauvinistic men in the film end up as obstacles for Bella since they do not like her exercising her sovereignty as a person. Feminism isn't just "men suck"
Bro are you for real? "She acts like a man"? This entire movie is an Insta-thot's stories reel. What man gets to travel the world, not work, and get paid for endless amounts of sex? "A baby's brain in a full grown woman's body" = yeah, that's called the modern woman bud. This movie really isn't as good as all the art house stans say it is. I'll give it credit for a lot of things, but the story isn't one of them.
Maggie can you review BURNING a south korean film. In my opinion more nuanced story on class difference than parasite.
Can we talk about sadism of Godwin’s father and insane level of trauma he underwent at his hands, how that trauma shaped him into who he is in the film. Also the symbolism of him “burping” small planet-Earths into brief existence after each meal?
I saw the movvie this last week and I have to say.... I don't remember how it ends. Yes, the last part falls short ofthe promises of first part. Still.... This is not a movie, this is cinema, something rare in these times.
Just to clarify, Bella calls him God because it's a short version of his name Godwin that would have been easier to say when she's got a childs brain.
I love your reviews, there so authentic and really elaborated on a psychological analytical level. I feel that you love talking about movies, it is so nice. Your are an awesome human being, thank you for your work and time ❤
I saw _Kinds of Kindness_ before I saw this, just ten minutes ago, and I just came here to say "I get it", this was a brilliant film all over. Emma Stone really did the thing. Jesus!
I think you're about the third act, if by that you mean the chapter "Alexandria". Maybe the transition needed just a few minutes more to really sink in.
Yeah, I never thought I would want to call Willem Dafoe adorable!
I love your review for this movie it really put some things into perspective for me and now I look at it in a different way and I appreciate that thank you
Cinematography was also excellent. And what there was of a score I also really enjoyed.
The fisheye lens shots, the rigid/mechanical pans, the closeup portraits of the main characters, some quick zooms for dramatic and comedic effect... A truly delightful visual experience that did a fantastic job in maximizing the possibilities of the medium and accentuating the surrealism and themes of the film.
I came out of the cinema a few hours ago and I just knew you would like this one! Great review as always, I wish I could hear you discuss more of the feminism aspects of the film as well as the third act and the ending.
I’m really excited to see what Emma Stone brings to Ari Aster’s next film ‘Eddington’.
The writer seems to have thought that adding the word fuck makes sentences funny. Or at least the guy sitting behind me in the theatre thought so.
This doesn't sound very promising. Maybe films that attempt to dive into feminist politics would be entertaining if anybody who directed one was ever saying anything interesting about it. But this is almost never the case, unfortunately, because the filmmaker never seems to have actually bothered to think about the topic with any seriousness or they're afraid to introduce nuance or uncertainty because they open themselves up to the possibility of being suspected of thought crime or ideological heresy or whatever. We're always just getting boilerplate empty sloganeering, not analysis or insight.
This is especially true for male directors. It has something to do with our culture and where we are in history, I guess. What you typically get in a feminist film directed by a man is what you find in a film like Men. It's always some variation on the "myth of the one good man." Basically, every guy thinks he's the only decent guy on the planet and that it's his job to save women from all the other bad guy men, which he's going to do with his film apparently. That's why he's special. The obvious irony here is that this conception of women as damsels and men as heroes (or "allies") that save them or villains that menace them is the basic assumption behind the very traditional patriarchy of yore that he's ostensibly complaining about. It never occurs to the super sophisticated and morally superior director who is mustering all his courage to tell us how bad he thinks oppression is. F*cking hell, lol. It's like, his feminist film doesn't actually threaten the patriarchy or its assumptions, but is in fact a product of those very assumptions. He's literally endorsing the basic moral foundation of patriarchy while under the impression that he's challenging it.
I mean c'mon. This is hardly an esoteric brain melting insight. To have missed this, you couldn't have thought seriously or critically about feminism at any point in your life, regardless of what side of the debate you landed on. Nobody of average intelligence is this confused about it. That's not possible.
It's like a grown man, usually in middle age, who still thinks the cheerleader will choose him over the jock bully he hates because he alone understands her. lol. It's beyond cringe. Neil LaBute does this, for instance. The mark of his sincerity and sophistication is the degree to which he can vomit up his own pathological loathing, which is especially deep and super meaningful if he aims it at himself (of course). What do we learn from this? That the director is a good person and that women should approve of him? Was that the point of these movies? Because I'm not seeing any other point to them.
Maybe this is a good movie -- I suppose it's possible that somebody actually makes a feminist film worth seeing for once -- but I'm honestly tempted to skip it. It's exhausting. I'm also getting "if you don't like this movie, you're against sex positivity" vibes from culture war damaged people, as if it's not possible to make a shitty movie that is pro sex or something. And since when is sex positivity a subversive message that anyone needed to hear anyway? You'd have to go back literally decades. I'm pretty sure I would disagree with the perspective of any sex negative person, but the prospect of a film made by one is at least a lot more interesting than yet another movie where we get to hear about how great the current thing we're all supposed to already agree with is.
Agreed. Same as my post.
I can’t believe you wrote all of this for a movie you haven’t even watched. Jesus Christ.
That's a lot of assumptions for a movie you haven't seen...
I wish I had time and intention
@@mhawang8204 Most of the post isn't about Poor Things at all. It's about a particular type of film more generally.
Yorgos is a must watch for me so I'm beyond excited for this. Thanks for the review!
Really hoping that you review Godzilla Minus One as well, cheers.
Reminds me of Beau is Afraid in how I ultimately feel about it after mulling it over: I admire it more than I like it, but that's not to say I don't like it.
The clue to this films adaptation of Alasdair Gray's book,
is the Blessington characters monologue on the cruise ship.
Life is meaningless and humans are monsters.
By the end of the film... Bella is content to be the metaphorical,
and literal monster she knows she is. Not to help humanity,
but to experiment on it.
The core of the film is that humans are irredeemable.
That's why the 'happy ending' is so unsettling.
It is the quietude in the garden of utter madness.
*Most men believed 'fully grown women' were still 'internally' infantile children.
See Schopenhauer's ( now infamous, yet then taken as empirically valid )
1851 'On Women' essay. This is literally the case with Bella.
But the film asks the viewer... what happens if the child grows up?
Although not to a happy resolution, a fairytale conclusion,
but to fully realise humans were never benign to begin with.
To understand that, only the veneer of societal conditioning,
disguises what humans truly are. To help hide the fact,
humans invent fabulous illusionary stories about themselves.
That they're nothing but flightless angels.
This film isn't about feminism, it is about how women wish to distance themselves,
from men, in order to disown the inner monster within both of them.
I felt this movie is fun to compare with three movies with similar themes:
1) Taken: In that Poor Things is the exact opposite of it - the father allows his daughter to be kidnapped and then the daughter willfully chooses the brothel and gets through it on her own and comes out of it a stronger happier person
2) Regarding Henry: Another story where an adult becomes child-like and experiences the cruelty of the adult world and his wife prefers the child-like Henry to the original!
3) Big: A weird twist where the child chooses to be in adult form to enjoy adult privilege , finds the price overwhelming because, well I guess this kid isn't a genius or is easily fazed like Bella, and choose to go back to kid form.
Appreciated the previous two films from Lanthimos, but Dogtooth/The Lobster had terrible executions despite interesting ideas.
Not sure if I’ll ever be interested enough to watch Alps, or if Poor Things is in my wheelhouse. Definitely will wait to rent his newest work.
Ever see Orlando, w/ Tilda Swinton? 30 years on, she still amazes me w/ that performance.
I know it’s an older movie but would love to see you review The Remains of the Day
Great film. I'd love to sometime. :)
great review. now i think i'd like to catch this one at the cinema .
Thanks for the review. I was looking forward to it.
Zulawski's 'Possession' is one of my favs, and Emma Stone has grown on me since 'Birdman' and 'The Favourite.' She has a weird energy that the camera instinctively devours. (Jeanne Moreau, Barbara Stanwyck, Monica Vitti, Bette Davis, etc. all had it.) Haven't seen this 'Poor Things' yet, but I love Lanthimos's other films - especially 'Alps' (my favorite of his) and 'The Lobster.' Your ambivalent views on feminism remind me of Camille Paglia's - a brilliant writer. "Man rules the world, and woman rules man." Willem Dafoe, like Lanthimos, is always fascinating (they can't help it). It seems to me that the only frontier left for feminism is a reverse one, a reclaiming of the past, where woman's elemental power is so much more self-evident than her contemporary "equal footing" political competition with men. The face that launched a thousand ships did not belong to AOC.
Im gonna watch it! Can you review Godzilla Minus One next?
haven’t stopped thinking about this film since I left truly so beautiful and well told movie of the year for me
Virtuoso direction and a virtuoso performance by Emma Stone cannot completely convince this viewer of the film's greatness. A curious hotchpotch amalgam of films as diverse as Being John Malkovich, The Wizard of Oz, The Enigma of Kasper Hauser, The Elephant Man and Breaking The Waves, this supposed literate and bold reimagining of Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel abandons the Glaswegian perspective of postmodern pastiche and a blackly comic view of the quaint ways of the Victorian-era British Empire and substitutes it with a female rites-of-passage story of sorts for baby-brained and adult bodied Bella Baxter whilst targeting polite society and male chauvinism as obstacles in her path.
Despite the film's relish at dealing with such meaty fantasy source material, the very nature of the material itself (and it seems its interpretation) cannot hide its mean-spiritedness, anger, cruelty and jaundiced cynicism that tries to pass itself off as 21st century enlightened wisdom over the obvious mistakes of centuries past and presenting itself as a black comedy.
On the positive side, the decision to focus on the story of empowerment embodied by Bella does provide the metaphorical possibilities of imagining identity which garners considerable empathy and political import.
Still, it's not so much wildly entertaining as simply wild, undisciplined and too eager to follow the childlike instincts of the main character without considering their narrative significance. The film seems too in love with its eccentricity to formalise something truly substantial. For someone who has seen all those films mentioned earlier (and all infinitely superior), I am still wondering whether I am meant to be placed as a viewer much like the main character, eager to be pleased by the momentary pleasure of sex or masturbation, put my child's brain in my adult head in order to engage or to laugh mockingly and pity these 'poor things' from an assumed superior contemporary point of view of I don't know what. An intermittently compelling and infuriating mess.
So my friends and I were the only ones who felt uncomfortable that adults were having sex with a child throughout this film??
The reason I haven't seen it ...
YES!!! A Pedophilic fantasy masquerading as art!
Thank you. I can't believe people making me feel narrow-minded while they enjoy being "artistic". There is a distasteful & unfair irony somewhere. Unbelievable. A 5 year-old losing her innocence through sexual urges & men taking advantage of her underdeveloped brain. What are we even talking about?
Not at all, people have creative alternatives for the word pedophilia.. but our "uncomfortable " feelings will be misconstrued as prude or not understanding the "art" of it..😶
Yup. Emma Stone is clearly not a child.
You just made this my favourite movie I've never seen.
Will there be a review of wonka?
I left the theater jokingly saying it’s a masterpiece, but immediately questioned maybe it is lol. The multi-currents like slapstick, matter-of-fact dialogue, ridiculous nature, magical realism, Rococo, etc, allow the viewer to engage in topics that might trigger some people. We are suspended in it’s absurdity and that’s non-threatening. Forgiveness is a superpower and frees one of shame’s prison. Maybe not a Fool triumphant story, but love triumphant?
I don't see it as wrong not to shout out your kinks at work or at the dinner table. It doesn't mean you are unhealthy and repressed. It means you care enough about others not to make them feel uncomfortable. Good manners are about being unselfish.
I never said you should shout them out. I merely said it's a strange concept.
I’m drawn to you as a film critic because you express your ideas in extremely eloquent and masterful ways. When we agree on a film, I feel like you articulate exactly what I felt about that film precisely.
But, in watching a few of your reviews it does seem clear to me that you value thematics and density much more than you do narrative or story.
Poor Things, for me, didn’t offer up anything profound AT ALL. She is coming of age and wants to explore her sexuality… okay… what else?
For me, that is wafer thin. And it’s essentially what the whole film is about.
The story doesn’t hold anything of value to me.
I say this because I watched your Fight Club review also and you were wanting for something more profound to be said/stated.
Films for me, although they can be enlightening, are ultimately a medium of entertainment. And watching Emma Stone get boinked by perverted old men over and over again isn’t something I tend to enjoy 😂
How are you supposed to feel walking away from a film like this? Genuinely curious.
I clocked what it was about in the opening minutes of the film so to hammer the audience over the head with the concept again and again but taking them to new locations and changing the colour palette from black and white to vivid colour is not inspired, to me anyway.