Yorgos Lanthimos's hot streak continues with another incredible film, adding to his already impressive body of work. This time, he's created a dreamlike and unforgettable universe that I know will stick with me for years to come. Poor Things really shows off Emma Stone's talent, tackling tough challenges for her character in such a believable way. While I was already blown away by Lanthimos's other work like The Lobster, The Favorite, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Poor Things has truly exceeded my expectations, and now I can't wait to see what Lanthimos directs next!

Poor Things follows Bella Baxter, portrayed by Emma Stone, on her journey after being resurrected by the unorthodox yet highly skilled surgeon, Godwin Baxter, played by Willem Dafoe. Bella embarks on an extraordinary adventure across continents, discovering herself, confronting the world's horrors, and satisfying her innate curiosity for exploration. Themes of independence, equality, empowerment, freedom, and womanhood permeate the film. It's a wild, often hilarious, and occasionally unsettling ride, culminating in a visually stunning tale of liberation.

Poor Things is mesmerizing. The atmosphere in the theater was electric, making the viewing experience even more special. It's been a while since I've seen such an engaged audience. Among the films released this year, Poor Things easily ranks in my top 5, alongside some of my favorites like Past Lives and The Holdovers. Despite its length, the film never feels drawn out, which is a big plus in this era where most movies are longer than two hours. The stunning cinematography and Emma Stone's performance truly elevate this film.

Emma Stone's talent is unparalleled! She continues to deliver amazing standout performances. Looking through her Filmography, the closest performance to this one is probably her role in La La Land, for which she won Best Actress. Bella Baxter presents a far more challenging character to portray; she begins the film with minimal intelligence, motor skills, or motivation. Throughout the movie, Emma skillfully ages her performance, subtly improving Baxter's ability to walk and communicate. Eventually, we see Bella at her peak, speaking multiple languages, engaging in deep conversations, and ultimately discovering her agency and independence.

Other standout performances include Mark Ruffalo, who plays a lawyer who is in love with Bella Baxter. Ramy Youssef, plays Max McCandless, an assistant to Godwin Baxter, is also in love with Bella. I must also shout out Jerrod Carmichael's perfomance of Harry Astley; though his role is smaller, his character's depth and writing deeply resonated with me. Despite having little screen time, Harry Astley easily became my favorite character behind Bella Baxter.

The cinematography is incredible. There are tons of scenes where the camera slowly zooms in on the subject, juxtaposed with an equal number of scenes where the camera slowly pulls back, fitting thematically with the film's "caged bird" vibe. These tight close-up zooms make you feel trapped and breathless, while the pulled-back shots offer a sigh of relief and a feeling of comfort. The film's visual aesthetic is beautiful, there's a warm, albeit not necessarily vibrant, color palette. It feels similar to Wes Anderson's style, yet slightly more saturated and moody, giving the impression of a play on a stage with hand-painted sets at times.

The music in Poor Things is so unique, particularly at the beginning. The sounds add an eerie layer to the atmosphere, especially within the mansion and around the mysterious surgeon Godwin Baxter. They're subtle, mostly random plucks of string instruments, yet they contribute a ton to the film’s atmosphere, especially when paired with the tight zooms. If I recall correctly, many scenes in the film utilize the same melody with different instruments in a less creepy manner as the film progresses. This contrast was fun to experience, especially while watching Bella's character development.

I strongly dislike the trend of long movies (90-100 minutes is the ideal runtime, in my opinion, and no one can convince me otherwise). While I understand that Poor Things needed more time to fully explore Bella's journey, about three-quarters of the way through, it started losing momentum. However, things do pick up in that final quarter. I miss the days when directors were challenged to be more selective in what they included in their final cut.

Even though this criticism is minor, I scored the film very high, and there isn't much I would change about it. Poor Things has become my favorite Yorgos Lanthimos film (for now). Now I really need to watch Dogtooth and some of his other older work.

Poor Things is a must-see for any Yorgos Lanthimos fans. Poor Things is a must-see for Emma Stone fans. Go watch this.

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