POOR THINGS - Movie Review

[SoulKnightKing]

If Willem DaFoe doesn't win an Oscar after 40 years of hustling, and a brilliant performance in a Best Picture Frontrunner than We riot. This man ks the most fearless, consistent, and talented working actor we have. I would argue no one today has his filmography because hes fearless in the roles he always chooses and really brings out the character's humanity because he grew up in the theather. Point is GIVE HIM ALL THE AWARDS

[jamespace]

I found your comments on the third act very interesting because it perfectly captured my experience -- the first time watching. It felt like a plateau jad been reached. But, on second viewing, it actually really worked for me. It felt like Bella's journey was complete, but the one thing she lacked was a history - so she goes looking for it, ro discover who she/her mother was, to understand the life that women were pigeonholed into and the tumult it came with. The cruelty of the general that Victoria embraced, the self loathing, the lack of options. Why did she end up on that bridge. And the second time round, I felt the darkness. The general seems truly monstrous in a film full of monsters. And Bella is able to comfront the monster at the heart ofthe maze in a way Victoria couldn't. I'm not sure how well worded this is but my point is it felt like coming full circle and totally worked for me in a way it didn't watch on first watch.

Great review as always, you're the best in the game.

[thebestwingsfan]

Good for Emma Stone. After starting out as a routine Hollywood actress in Easy A and The Amazing Spider-Man, she could've just continued with typical Hollywood roles but ever since Birdman in 2014, she's really taken chances with more independent projects and has really evolved as an actress similar to how Elizabeth Taylor did with darker, more mature roles as she became an adult.

[PenjaminFranklyn]

Love your channel and the way you articulate and convey your reviews with conviction and educated insight 💯

[surianisuri]

Maggie, I have enjoyed and followed your reviews for ten years now, but sadly having watched this movie a few days ago I seem to have taken a different message and meaning from Poor Things. The character played by Willem Dafoe I found to be sympathetic and definitely displayed his love as an adoptive father (from my own experience) for the character of Bella. Sadly I did not see the feminist narrative, except in a modern day pervasion of that feminist narrative. Overwhelmingly as the movie progressed I became more and more uncomfortable with the clear message being pushed about the grooming and sexual exploitation of a ten year old to twelve year old girl. I felt like one of the Germans that had witnessed the opening of the Ark of the Covenant. This is clearly a film promoting Pedophilia and was not subtle. The point where an emaciated Emma Stone was tied up in a brothel scene and subjected Kinbaku was without doubt perverse.

Emma Stone has been one of my favourite actresses since I first remember seeing her in Superbad (2007), when she played a delightful and attractive young woman. I thought that she was great in Zombiland and I even enjoyed her performance in La La Land. Sadly I did not see the character that you described in your review, instead I witnessed a child who was abused and manipulated, separated from the Willem Dafoe character who loved protected and sheltered her and then subjected to manipulation and sexual exploitation. Perhaps because I am in England where we have had the experience of hundreds of thousands of girls from the age of 10 years old groomed and raped for twenty five years with the complete approval of the government, police and social services that I see this movie in a completely different light.

Although based upon the novel by Alasdair Gray, this film appeared to be a terrible attempt to visualise a third rate version of an Alan Moore comic book, if it had been in the hands of a director such as Zack Snyder maybe it could have been saved.

[ennvee]

I find it odd that Bella is a child in a woman's body....predatory manipulation of innocence. And look at the image on the book cover ( man with children on his lap).

[hypnoticfig]

I think its a bit reductive to call this a feminist film personally. It explored female reality, which is some ways will show feminist topics of course but i dont think it was trying to make a point, the film, like Bella, was just exploring, so its realistic to see the experience of being a woman without the need to see some feminist point being made, or some man to rise to the occasion...? Its also funnier the way it was, i think it would start to feel preachy otherwise. thats just me tho

[oleeb]

It’s hard to explain because it doesn’t make sense or have a point. It’s a curiosity and interesting but by no means a great movie. It pretends profundity but misses the mark by quite a distance.

[hoibsh]

Ah, the problematic third act. I appreciate a filmmaker with a fresh vision so I'll definitely see this movie.

[chelseapoet]

As far as I'm concerned, you're easily the best reviewer out there. After I saw this brilliant film I came straight to your channel and wasn't disappointed.

[cindyr]

I found the movie to be interesting - I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I do like the fact that it makes you think due to the ideas being explored and the relationships that play out. I wish we had seen more of her interacting with Astley actually - he was the one male who found her interesting and tried to challenge her viewpoints without trying to sleep with her. I also would have loved to see more of her exploration of the world versus having the main emphasis be on her sexual awakening - I loved the scene where she was just exploring that city and taking it all in.

[JustGeorgeRay]

Very well spoken and articulated! I fell in love with this film and avoided all trailers and promotional material to an extreme degree and I'm glad I did. You definitely opened my eyes up to more than what I experienced on my first watch so thank you (seeing it again this weekend and couldn't be more excited and hope you get a chance too as well!)

[squatch]

The entry into Yorgos Lanthimos for me was The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was incredible. Looking forward to Poor Things.

[tomvalentino]

Poor Things is Anti-Barbie.
Bella is a better Weird Barbie.
Ken is more likeable than Duncan for sure.
Swingy is a darker version of Ruth Handler.
Godwin is more relatable than Will Farrell’s CEO.

[TheDreamingJune]

This is my most anticipated film of the year!! I've been watching your reviews in the past month after a friend recommended your channel to me and I have to say you have a way of articulating your criticisms and insights that's better than most critics I've seen. Your passion is evident and your intelligence shines through – it inspires me to analyse the stuff I love and hate beyond a surface level.
Keep up the amazing work! ❤

[RetakeRemakeAlanSmithee]

- the most memorable film from last year.
- this movie would be a great double bill with "The City of Lost Children"
- amazing to see how Emma Stone's career got to this point: stunning doesn't even cover it regarding her performance here
- those costumes and sets were to die for
- Bella Baxter is a fully realized woman as she sits there contently in the film's final frame

[mordantfilms]

After I heard your opinion of Ruffalo's character, I went into it expecting to not like him. However, I found his character absolutely hilarious and pathetic. In general, I was impressed that most of the American actors played English and Irish characters that could've easily been given to English and Irish actors and everyone, especially Kathryn Hunter, was incredible. I found it particularly funny that Bella started out with an American accent and slowly developed her English accent as she learned more.
Easily the best of '23 for me. I see that Stone is already going to be in Lamthimos' next two projects. She obviously has become his muse. I can't wait. I'd actually like to see him work with Farrell again as well.

[VinnySmiles]

This movie is already overrated in my opinion. While the overall artistic look of the movie was unique and there are some funny scenes, the characters were just ok. If Emma Stone wins an Oscar for this role it will be on par with Denzel Washington winning an Oscar for Training Day. In the end there are far too many graphic sex scenes for this to be considered an intelligently written movie. A good writer would know how to convey scenarios like that without making the audience feel like they're watching a soft core porn. That being said, Willem Dafoe is probably the only stand out performance in my opinion.

[M_Sonata]

To be honest, I tend to disagree with some of your reviews, but I see completely eye to eye with you regarding Poor Things. Thanks for the vlog

[themtgdude]

Unfortunately, I pretty much hated it. I kept thinking is sex the only way a woman can experience the world? Women are way much more than that.