Poor Things Review
Poor Things is the kind of movie to stay in your mind for a long time.
Synopsis
The movie is an adaptation from the 1992 novel from Alasdair Gray, as the movie talks about the woman Bella Baxter, who was brought back to life by a crazy scientist - Godwin Baxter. As Bella adventures through the world, she rediscovers the world itself. She learns the good things of life, such as: books, knowledge, love, and sex. Still, she must go through the hard reality of the world, until she fully understands it.
Poor Things' Cinematography
Poor Things has one of the most beautiful and unique cinematographies. As Yorgos (the director) wanted to increase a sense of rediscovering the world on this movie, by using unique camera angles that highlight that highlight Bella's fragmented sense of reality, and immerse the audience on this journey. Yorgos also wanted to add a sense of surrealism on the movie, as seen by the exaggerated color palette, we as the audience are supposed to view the world just as Bella sees it, still, as the movie goes on and Bella's sense of reality start to increase we see more usual camera angles and a more neutral color pallete.
The Journey
This scene's color palette and lightining show Bella's view of the world, as her journey just started in Lisbon, Portugual, Bella still sees the world as a place full of wonders.
The Reality
Compared to the previous scene that is seen from the begining of the movie, this image is seen more throughout the end, as this frame indicates Bella's bigger sense of reality by the lightning, the neutral color palette, and the usage of fisheye lenses (increase the sense of isolation and imprisonment from the world).
Poor Things' Screenplay
As a lot of movies out there, the dialogue is one of the best parts, and Poor Things is for sure one of this movies. The writer of the movie - Tony McNamara - added more modern ideas on the movie compared to the original book made in 1992, still, he was able to resonate to the audience by his deep emotional and funny lines. By adding a more satirical tone to the movie, Tony adresses moments that will make you laugh, such as: " I must go punch that baby!" Still, he is able to add incredible dialogues/ monologues that speak the whole message of the movie, as some of them addresses human nature & ethics, identity, societal norms, freedom of speech, gender roles, and human condition.
Acting
The character Bella Baxter is played by Emily Stone, one of the most adaptable and incredible actresses of this era, and especially in this movie, Emily plays the role of her life. From the beginning of the movie we see Bella being a fully adult acting like a toodler, not knowing how to speak, walking woobly, and messily eating. As the movie goes on we see Bella growing up and becoming a fully grown woman, we see such things just by the way Emily walks, speak, and even looking. Emily's performance in this movie was also acclaimed by multiple competitions, but the biggest one The Oscars, where she was able to get her second Academy Award.
Bella's Discoveries
Freedom
"I am a changingable beast, as are all of we." This quote by Bella fully summons up her character, as Bella discovers the social norms and expectations, she realizes that she needs to be herself and do what she wants to be fully happy.
Knowledge
"It's the goal of all to improve, advance, progress, grow." As Bella progresses through the movie, she starts learning about philosophy, capitalism, and socialism. Such thirst for knowledge perfectly describes Bella's character, as she wants to help improve the world.
Humanity
"Money is it's own form of sickeness!" Even if Bella learns about the good things of life, she discovers the dark side of humanity, the hidden one, as she discovers the extreme hardhsips that other persons go through in poverty. Such truth helps Bella to mature even more as a person and have a bigger sense of humanity and the reality of the world.
Poor Things Controversy
One of the biggest themes of Poor Things is self-discovering, still, the movie adresses when humans aren't able to do such thing due to extreme control, and in the case of Poor Things the extreme control is made by man. As the movie shows multiple graphic sex scenes, Yorgos wanted to emphasize how humans are horrible and will do anything to have the control of others, and Bella - still learning the world - doesn't know what to do but accept it. However, the character of Bella still enjoyed to do such things as she discovered a lot of herself and who she was, as she discovers her past.
Yorgos Lanthimos Directing
Yorgos has long been known for his unique style of movies, and Poor Things is not an exception. His unique view of humanity and who we are as a species just adds to the incredible final result of the movie, by his cinematography, lighting, and score techniques, Yorgos submerges the audience into this beautiful adventure of the life of Bella Baxter.