The best word to describe Yorgos Lanthimos’s newest film, Poor Things, is stunning. The film brings forth a collection of outstanding costumes and set pieces that transport audiences to another world all while commenting on very real themes and emotions that women experience throughout their lives. The film combines science fiction and Victorian-era aesthetics to create visuals like no other while also using the familiar black-and-white and color features to convey different tones and moods. With an outstanding ensemble cast and talented crew, this film is sure to pick up accolades and potential Academy awards for the best actress, costume design, hair and make-up, production design, and potentially even sound design.
The film follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a woman revived by her “father” Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) who treats her as an experiment, a pure piece of science that should not be corrupted. As Bella ages, new desires start to steer her away from Godwin. When Bella ultimately runs away to explore the world for herself, she matures rapidly as Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) shows her the ways of life outside of London.
With unmatched production design done by Shona Heath, a world was conjured up for the film, inspired by the Bella Epoque era in Paris. Much of the set was built for the film, but Hollywood tricks were also put to work as LED screens and painted backdrops were added to give depth to the world created for the film. Costume designer Holly Waddington utilized her craft to tell Bella’s story in her own way, using the transition from one style to another to showcase Bella’s character arc. Nadia Stacey is the Academy Award-nominated hair, make-up, and prosthetics artist who worked to reinforce many of the aesthetics that the production design team created. Stacey used makeup to reflect the world the story was being told in, while also considering the characters in the film and using her art to make them even more unique.
Poor Things is undoubtedly and unapologetically funny largely thanks to the chemistry between Ruffalo and Stone. The duo is unmatchable and makes line deliveries perfect and poignant at every opportunity. With a stellar script, the film delivers messages through humor, moral questions, and complex characters that challenge Bella, but also help her grow. The story is magical and takes the audience on a journey that is all about the experiences, desires, and values that Bella adopts as she matures.
Lanthimos discusses similar topics to that of his past films such as “Who can tell a human from an animal?” The main focus of Poor Things, however, is gender expectations and norms which Bella challenges as she matures. Godwin would like to keep Bella in the home as a spectacle for male voyeurism, tests, and purity, but Bella has desires of her own that she pursues against the will of a male’s demands. New emotions and desires are unlocked such as lust, rage, and curiosity which Bella fully embraces when she escapes the clutches of Godwin, now discovering the world for herself.
The film follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a woman revived by her “father” Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) who treats her as an experiment, a pure piece of science that should not be corrupted. As Bella ages, new desires start to steer her away from Godwin. When Bella ultimately runs away to explore the world for herself, she matures rapidly as Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) shows her the ways of life outside of London.
With unmatched production design done by Shona Heath, a world was conjured up for the film, inspired by the Bella Epoque era in Paris. Much of the set was built for the film, but Hollywood tricks were also put to work as LED screens and painted backdrops were added to give depth to the world created for the film. Costume designer Holly Waddington utilized her craft to tell Bella’s story in her own way, using the transition from one style to another to showcase Bella’s character arc. Nadia Stacey is the Academy Award-nominated hair, make-up, and prosthetics artist who worked to reinforce many of the aesthetics that the production design team created. Stacey used makeup to reflect the world the story was being told in, while also considering the characters in the film and using her art to make them even more unique.
Poor Things is undoubtedly and unapologetically funny largely thanks to the chemistry between Ruffalo and Stone. The duo is unmatchable and makes line deliveries perfect and poignant at every opportunity. With a stellar script, the film delivers messages through humor, moral questions, and complex characters that challenge Bella, but also help her grow. The story is magical and takes the audience on a journey that is all about the experiences, desires, and values that Bella adopts as she matures.
Lanthimos discusses similar topics to that of his past films such as “Who can tell a human from an animal?” The main focus of Poor Things, however, is gender expectations and norms which Bella challenges as she matures. Godwin would like to keep Bella in the home as a spectacle for male voyeurism, tests, and purity, but Bella has desires of her own that she pursues against the will of a male’s demands. New emotions and desires are unlocked such as lust, rage, and curiosity which Bella fully embraces when she escapes the clutches of Godwin, now discovering the world for herself.
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