Cinephiles have been wondering if Yorgos Lanthimos has again delivered a great film with his upcoming Searchlight-produced “Poor Things.”
The film was selected for competition at the upcoming 80th Venice Film Festival. One of that fests programmers has given us his thoughts on the film.
This is what they had to say:
In my opinion, one of the best films of the competition, it’s also his [Lanthimos] most visually beautiful film. I'll also tell you that it's not a film that will be liked by everyone — it’s not “The Favorite,” which was the film that even the anti-Lanthimos crowd really liked.
So, praise from Rauco, but a warning to Lanthimos detractors that this will likely not change your opinion of the polarizing Greek filmmaker. They’re already sharpening their knives for this one.
I absolutely loved “The Favorite” and “Dogtooth,” thought the first half of “The Lobster” was much better than its weaker second half and wasn’t that impressed by “The Killing of A Sacred Deer” and “Alps.” That’s where I stand with Lanthimos.
A delightfully deranged trailer for “Poor Things” had been released earlier this summer. Then, due to the actors strike, its early September release date got delayed to December 8. As it stands, no other Festival has announced it as being part of their lineup.
Lanthimos seems to be taking a big swing with this one. I’m not sure how Searchlight will be marketing it to a mass audience, but who really cares.
Here’s the official synopsis:
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.
The film stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Abbott.
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.