Poor Things 2023
Critics like movies that are unique and different, so it is no surprise that they love Poor Things. Based on reviews, I wanted to see it, but I knew nothing about it going in, except I did see previews and knew it was sort of a Frankenstein tale. That is about all you want to know, except I will also say this is not a movie to take your mother to see as there is a lot of nudity and mostly brief, but frenzied, sex scenes with Emma Stone. When I walked in to the theater for a Monday matinee, there were like four other men there seated by themselves and now I know why. It is a quirky, bizarre movie, often funny, but always pretty dark. The setup part of the movie is interesting and entertaining as you are introduced to the characters. Then it really starts to wander, especially towards the end, but you still want to watch. There is definitely character development for Emma Stone's character, but not in the usual way. Instead the movie is just telling you this fantastical story, almost a ribald David Copperfield. Emma Stone is fearless in playing this role. She worked with the same director, Yorgos Lanthimos, in The Favourite, which I didn't realize while I was watching, but makes a lot of sense. The movie is a little squirmy, interesting, has some things to say, but also feels a little like a cheap horror film at times or a farce of movies set in Victorian times. I did like the production design, which has some crazy stuff going on, not unlike Wonka. I think it can be a little too much and I don't want to mistake outlandishness for creativity necessarily, plus it is probably just a little too long, though it is a good enough movie that more seems like it would be a good thing. So I can't give it a top score of an A, but an A- seems reasonable.
Written: 29 Jan 2024