Lanthimos’ Misguided Missile: ‘Poor Things’ Review

Rating: C-

When saying that the film Poor Things is flawed is like saying that the late Queen Elizabeth II was ugly. In life, she was no looker. The opposite actually can be said about the movie. It’s sumptuous. The fish eye lense, the zooms, close-ups, Victorian costumes and steampunk machines and expressive colors shine through.

What sullies this film is not the idea of Emma Stone’s character, Bella Baxter, being a prostitute. It’s the fact that only white men and black women may engage in sexual intercourse with her, for money or not. Could Jerrod Carmichael not have been a sexual partner?

Mark Ruffalo’s character Duncan Wedderburn, is especially heinous but not as bad as Bella. The words that fly out of his mouth equivocate the evils of socialism with the morality of capitalism which is vicious and false. Bella’s penchant for altruism is a disgusting display as she doesn’t see virtue in the actions or the potential of the poor, she just hands over his cash wantonly.

In true Yorgos Lanthimos fashion, the dialogue is clipped and particularly formal and astute. The fight scenes show the comical pacing for all involved.

But the fact Bella doesn’t bed brown, red, yellow women and men and black men, that was a major misstep on the director’s part. What? In this sexually charged piece, there can only be a selective amount of people that can sexualize Bella?

The twist at the end is wonderful and surprising. It solidifies the idea that Bella has evolved into a woman. Many have made great mentions about how Bella transforms into a powerful femme. Why not show her as a successful businesswoman outside of her exploits in the skin trade?

Tony McNamara’s script illustrates a woman in full (eventually). Yet, at the core is something that may insult some women. Is it possible that ladies can excel in society by being gentlewomen of leisure? Must they be brought up through the musty vaults of self-sabotage and misunderstanding?

The best part about this film, as with the director’s past oeuvre, is that it has elements of science fiction and even hints at fantasy. Willem Dafoe’s Dr. Godwin Baxter is almost the most virtuous but he fails to see that his creation never fully realizes her potential. Bella may be cheered for her brashness and acquired erudition, she still lacks the thought that should sustain her life properly. Instead of being rational, selfish, and happy, she ends up vindictive and cold.

The overall motive of the filmmakers seemed to have been to make something bordering on pornography while injecting it with feminist principles to satisfy as many people as possible. To keep together the ideals of power, discovery, culture clashes, and utter silliness, Things plays up to anyone who wants to see plenty of sex, blue words, and acts of violence, self-inflicted or otherwise.

Still, Emma Stone deserves another gold statuette for Best Actress. For her nude scenes, she exhibited a fierceness and a truth that didn’t cause her to slum to just flashing flesh and making it a skin flick. This is really her picture. Lanthimos and McNamara and the rest of the crew have created art, not an exhibition of lewdness, gore and force for their own sake. Thanks to the outstanding performances, there is a special way that this film creeps into your mind and lives there even moments after watching it.

It represents the power and knowledge of the lead, Stone. For all of the excellent cinematography and blocking and staging, there is a complete way of depicting what it’s like to be a woman fighting her way through life.

Poor Things is just another example of how there still needs to be a revolution in female heroes without capes or utility belts.