Four good reasons to watch Poor Things
Four good reasons to watch Poor Things
If you are sitting down at home and wondering which movie is worth spending money on at the cinema, here is my answer: Poor Things. Maybe you have already seen The Favourite or The Lobster, and you know that Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies are quite fascinating. But if you have no idea who this Greek guy is, let me give you 4 good reasons to see his latest movie.
Poor Things is the adaptation of a novel by Scottish writer Alasdair Gray. It tells the story of Bella Baxter, an enigmatic young woman who goes through life as if she is a newborn. Which she kind of is: after her suicide, a crazy scientist named Dr. Godwin Baxter brings her back to life. The story is happening in a Frankenstein-ish and sci-fi Victorian atmosphere, the kind of world you wouldn’t dare imagine.
- Emma Stone as Bella Baxter
Her name should be enough, but in case you are a moron who is not aware of her talent, I will explain further. Emma Stone portrays Bella Baxter in a vivid and lively manner, knocking you off your feet for a few hours. I am not only referring to her obvious talent as an actress but also to the physical effort that the character requires. She creates a whole new way of walking, moving, and reacting to one’s interaction. She masters the evolution of her character’s physical abilities, she says as much if not more with her body than with her words. Her character is reborn, and Emma Stone insufflates life into the character.
Emma Stone is simply astonishing, both in her acting and in her Frankenstein beauty.
- Sex (a lot of it)
Sex is often suggested, romanticized, or even hidden in movies. Not in this one. Sex is central to this movie, illustrating Bella’s evolution. If Bella was one of your friends, you would probably describe her as “completely unhinged.” She seems utterly unbothered by the world’s quiet but anchored rules. The same applies to sex: once she discovers it, she wants more of it, with different people, and she is hungry for experiences and pleasure. In Poor Things, sex is funny, easy, awkward sometimes, abundant, and mostly explicit.
Which made me understand better why my mom disliked this movie.
- A weirdo’s world
I have always had a soft spot for weirdness, maybe because I see myself as a bit of a weirdo too. Yorgos Lanthimos employed some techniques he used in his previous movies, such as the fisheye lens, that deforms the frame and shakes our cinematic habits. I believe weird things bring us outside of our comfort zones, and make us question and reinvent ourselves. In Poor Things, the world is a strange mix of old-fashioned and futuristic vision, the colors and shapes are weird, and each character is more extravagant than the last. It’s certainly puzzling and fascinating, which I think should convince you to get your ass to the cinema.
- An ode to life
Last but not least, what I loved the most about this movie is that it’s an ode to life. This movie shows the beauty of experimenting, trying new things, discovering, and living a life free from society’s gaze. Not everything turns out perfect, but it still makes you look at life differently. Bella Baxter is hungry for life. She can’t stay in one place and refuses to bend to a male dominated society. This movie is not about feminism, however, is it undeniable that Bella Baxter is the essence of feminism.
In short, this movie is dope and you should watch it.
Cinematicly,
Alice Raffegeau