movie Poor Things (2023) | New Yorgos Lanthimos starring Emma Stone | Out now on VOD

[sciencemagic]

Wait this was sooo good?? Will nab so many Oscar noms for sure, and this film and Emma Stone's performance make me want to follow the Best Actress Oscars race now. Production design and visuals are stunning! 

 

Spoiler

The beginning was honestly a little uncomfortable to watch because I have a brother with autism and a lot of Bella's actions initially mirror some of the things that he might do, that my family has trained him off of (ie: what's polite in society), and when the sexual stuff started I felt awkward. I felt like there was a little TOO much sex IMO -- it felt infantilizing and just disturbing really.  

 

Other than the sex, Bella's quick development outside of the home and burgeoning womanhood into a doctor was built on well. Honestly though the accents were throwing me off a little I couldn't understand what they were really saying  The black guy on the cruise ship who's basically ATRL User Com*uni*on (doomsday style liberal) was not a great actor though  

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by sciencemagic

[Kern]

I'm currently reading the book. I already know this will be my favorite movie. Can someone tell me if there's a chance at it being avialable on ''''streaming''' before the release in EU in January?

[ctlp27]

This viewing experience was excruciatingly self-indulgent. Every minute felt like a struggle, and I found no enjoyment in it whatsoever.

There's nothing new or fresh about it; it feels like the director borrowed heavily from others like Jeunet and Anderson. The whole thing comes off as overly self-centered.

Props to Willem Dafoe, though—he did a great job. But, seriously, the rest of the movie? Not so much.

 

I know it's not an Hollywood movie per se, but got it really feels like a designed-algo version of what americans think of world-indie cinema (I know he's Greek but it's def an american movie).
 

Edited December 15, 2023 by ctlp27

[jrd30121994]

This was genuinely one of the best movies I’ve seen in years

[QueenofCopyPaste]

Watching this TONIGHT

[Poxy]

Saw this, didn’t really like it. I don’t consider myself a prude, but there was just a bit too much sex for my liking.  
 

Spoiler

I wonder if the film directly shared the idea that the doctor was (albeit, unintentionally) giving Bella’s unborn baby a chance to live a “better” or more liberated life than her mother had would ease some of the uncomfortableness people feel about the whole child living in their parent’s own body thing. I know it mentioned it, but it wasn’t really emphasized.

 

Edited December 25, 2023 by Poxy

[Mystic Warrior]

On 12/10/2023 at 1:49 AM, sciencemagic said:

Wait this was sooo good?? Will nab so many Oscar noms for sure, and this film and Emma Stone's performance make me want to follow the Best Actress Oscars race now. Production design and visuals are stunning! 

 

  Hide contents

The beginning was honestly a little uncomfortable to watch because I have a brother with autism and a lot of Bella's actions initially mirror some of the things that he might do, that my family has trained him off of (ie: what's polite in society), and when the sexual stuff started I felt awkward. I felt like there was a little TOO much sex IMO -- it felt infantilizing and just disturbing really.  

 

Other than the sex, Bella's quick development outside of the home and burgeoning womanhood into a doctor was built on well. Honestly though the accents were throwing me off a little I couldn't understand what they were really saying  The black guy on the cruise ship who's basically ATRL User Com*uni*on (doomsday style liberal) was not a great actor though  

 

Spoiler

The infantilization was the point. The movie is a social critique on men’s obsession with infantilizing, controlling, and owning women.

 

[Taylor fanboy]

Are the rumors true that this is the female Frankenstein as Barbie was the female Pinocchio? 

[Rhyme]

Saw it, was a really good movie. Yorgos and Emma really went for it. One thing about Emma is she's gonna show up to work and act her ass off. 

[Life Savers]

Ahhhh, what an EXCELLENT movie. I hadn’t been excited by a theater experience like this in a while.

[sciencemagic]

On 12/25/2023 at 9:40 AM, Mystic Warrior said:

  Hide contents

The infantilization was the point. The movie is a social critique on men’s obsession with infantilizing, controlling, and owning women.

 

Spoiler

True! Though now (a few weeks after I've seen it and thinking about it more) it does feel like this is a very male-gaze centered view on women's independence and liberation and learnings of the world. Like Bella gets super into sex and is super empathetic when she sees the dead babies... is womanhood distilled down into sex/promiscuity and the inherent maternalism? And yea she becomes a doctor but that was just the result of her environment rather than a trait that she grew into as her brain developed. I feel like this story would've had a bit more nuance if written/directed by a woman. Then again, Emma Stone was a producer and it's an adaptation (haven't read the book) so idk really 

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by sciencemagic

[Ampersand13]

Finally saw this last night and WHEW what a ride 

 

I think I'm still processing all of the messaging but what I so appreciated about this film is that its intentions felt genuine and clearly defined. There have been a couple films as of late that tote themselves to be societal critiques or whatnot that ultimately fall flat. This very much spoke to a specific and nuanced point about womanhood and agency that resonated strongly with me. Not to mention performances and humor were pitch perfect. The only area of critique (and this is very small nit/picky stuff) is pacing. There were story beats that I think could have been streamlined without sacrificing significance, but again very small takeaway from a truly brilliant movie. 

[FinleyGates]

I kind of hated this. Willem Defoe and the rest of the acting were great. But it felt like cheap exploitation of an a-list naked body with no real message. Hope Emma is just collecting her coins because I can’t see her in the same light anymore 

[Kern]

For people who haven't read the book and are interested in the differences:

 

Spoiler

• Book is not as half as funny as the movie, I was surprised by all the comedic scenes
• Before she had adventure with Duncan she also traveled with God but I guess it made sense to skip this in the movie
• I don't remember anything about them making Felicity or whatever her name was
• Paris chapter is shorter and there wasn't this much happening there as in the movie
• The narrator in the book is the doctor mostly reading Bella's letters
• There was much more philosophy and monologues

 

Edited January 15 by stupidjock

[Kylizzle]

The dance scene with Bella and Duncan is my favorite movie scene of the year I think. Such a powerful moment in Bella's growth arc.

[Memoirs387]

Finally saw this. I have to be honest, I was interested because of all the award buzz but I hadn’t seen a trailer, but I did know it was some kind of “Frankenstein” theme. 
 

And boy, whoever told me that needs to be slapped because was dumbed down explanation of this beautiful story. I was entranced and I loved it. There were moments I was like what am I watching, but once it was over and the more I think about it, I absolutely loved it. 

[montacelo]

I loved this movie. Mark did a great job as well as everyone else. Hope it wins at the Oscars. 

[Roberto]

This was so good! Emma deserves all the praise, tbh. 

 

[Sweetestsecret]

$52M on box office https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt14230458/?ref_=bo_se_r_1

[shark_heather]

Easily best movie ive ever watched 

 

Been already more than a week and im still thinking about it 

 

The cast , the acting , the visuals , the director , the photography , the COMEDY , the messages ... a full on ride 

 

I understand though the closed minded who can't enjoy masterpiece like this one 

 

Also props to the amazing promotional , its been everywhere and the small clips are one better than the other 

 

Ive seen also so many interviews of them having so much fun i feel so conected to the cast like never before 

[Weld_E]

On 12/29/2023 at 11:09 PM, sciencemagic said:

  Hide contents

True! Though now (a few weeks after I've seen it and thinking about it more) it does feel like this is a very male-gaze centered view on women's independence and liberation and learnings of the world. Like Bella gets super into sex and is super empathetic when she sees the dead babies... is womanhood distilled down into sex/promiscuity and the inherent maternalism? And yea she becomes a doctor but that was just the result of her environment rather than a trait that she grew into as her brain developed. I feel like this story would've had a bit more nuance if written/directed by a woman. Then again, Emma Stone was a producer and it's an adaptation (haven't read the book) so idk really 

 

I agree with this. I instantly double checked who the director was at the end of the movie and was not surprised that it was a man. The book is also written by a man, which explains the lack of nuance. My female friend echoed the same sentiment by saying there is more to a woman's experience than sex.

 

Very well made movie with great acting and beautiful aesthetics. I think they could’ve cut some of the sex scenes as they were rather excessive.

[RIKI232]

Just watched this...BEAUTIFUL movie!

first off all its so visually pleasing and beautiful from the fashion to the set design, and of course Mrs. Stone 

I can see the Oscar wins already 

Edited January 31 by RIKI232

[Eric.]

This movie is perfection. Funny, weird and smart in all the right ways, without trying too hard go over people's head.

 

Emma was so magnetic and her performance is so good, almost everyone else looks like they're barely acting at all. I haven't seen someone command a role like that in a while. 

[ICLDXU4HS]

This felt a little like a dumbed down and more accessible for mainstream audiences version of some of his earlier work, themes and style (mostly Dogtooth and The Lobster). Not necessarily in a bad way and Yorgos will always be famous, but yeah. I'm a hater, but Emma Stone was very, very good.

 

11 Oscar noms for it is overkill, though. It has absolutely nothing on the masterpiece that's The Favourite. 

[JoeAg]

THIS? WAS F*CKING INCREDIBLE

 

AN INSTANT FAV AND I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING 

 

here's my 5 star letterboxd review!!