Yorgos Lanthimos' "Poor Things" is a wildly imaginative and visually stunning film that defies easy categorization. Part Gothic fantasy, part feminist odyssey, the film follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the eccentric scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) with the brain of her unborn child.
What follows is a surreal journey of self-discovery as Bella, with her childlike curiosity and unfiltered approach to the world, embarks on adventures that challenge societal norms and expectations of women in Victorian-era Europe.
Visual Feast
The film's visual elements are extraordinary:
- Stunning production design creates a twisted Victorian steampunk aesthetic
- Robbie Ryan's cinematography shifts from black-and-white to increasingly saturated color
- Practical effects and CGI blend seamlessly to create fantastical imagery
- Costume design reflects Bella's evolution throughout her journey
- Makeup and prosthetics transform the actors into grotesque yet compelling characters
Emma Stone delivers a fearless, career-best performance as Bella, portraying her evolution from childlike innocence to intellectual and sexual awakening with remarkable nuance. Mark Ruffalo provides a delightfully unhinged performance as the libertine lawyer Duncan Wedderburn, while Willem Dafoe brings both menace and tenderness to Dr. Baxter. "Poor Things" is a bold, provocative film that challenges viewers while dazzling them with its visual imagination.