SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Poor Things.

From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation. -Synopsis from Searchlight Pictures)

Wow, what to say re: this movie!? It seems like viewers either loved it, hated it, or were simply confused! I saw it (on streaming) several mos. after it was released in theaters. Being always online (& a listener of movie pods) I learned a LOT about this before watching. I think there are some scenes that you can enjoy, IF you considered this an alternate universe (AU), a BIT like Bridgerton (Netflix). Well, it’s NOT always pretty like that Regency era show. The visual style is unique and eye-catching, as are the costumes and sets (part of production design). Now, Poor Things is NOT for those of y’all who are sensitive re: cursing, nudity, sex, and body horror (reminiscent at times of Canadian auteur David Cronenberg). The run time is TOO long, BUT that is not rare for recent films.

This is mostly a character study centered on Bella (Stone); she “grows up” from a toddler (as she has the brain of a child) to an adult young woman (capable of making her own choices). Do you think that Stone (who also produced this film) deserved that Oscar for Best Actress? Bella decides to to leaver her “father”- Dr. Godwin Baxter AKA “God” (Dafoe)- and start a romance w/ his lawyer, Duncan (Ruffalo). Sorry to say, Ruffalo is NOT working for me here; I’m a fan of his acting usually. Sometimes actors need to be pulled back by their directors, though I doubt Lanthimos asked for that. In the 2nd act, we meet a young American played by Carmichael; he’s a funny/smart stand-up, comedy writer, producer, etc. However, his style of acting/manner of speaking doesn’t fit w/in this world; it just took me out of the story. I thought that Dafoe and Youssef were quire good w/ all that they were given. Many weren’t amused by the way that sex work is handled in this movie; however, the filmmakers aren’t reflecting the real world. Feminism is NOT just about traveling or reading books- of course. No one can say that Lanthimos is risk-averse, that’s for sure! I was disappointed- that’s the conclusion.

[1] I do recommend this if you like the unusual art film. But I can see it as not being everyone’s idea of a fun time at the movies.

I might almost pair it up with “Barbie” as a thematic double feature as both films explore feminism in 2 very different ways.

[2] Completely over the top, mind boggling romp through the imagination of the main character on a journey of self-discovery and a relentless degree of self-indulgence.

[3] It’s a very very very specific type of weird, that won’t be for everyone. […] It’s like a fever dream on the strangest cocktail of psychedelics. If it happens to be your kind of weird, you will love it.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews