‘Kinds of Kindness' is Lanthimos Back in Non-Conformist and Nasty Form [Cannes]

I’ll write more about this one in an hour, but here are my off-the-cuff notes.

Yorgos Lanthimos’s unnerving, amusing and non-conformist “Kinds of Kindness” is a triptych: three stories, played by the same actors, all set in New Orleans. It is surreal work, set in an alternate reality where ultra-realism and fantasy can co-exist. It helps that Lanthimos’ longtime screenwriting collaborator, Efthimis Filippo, is back here.

This is Lanthimos going back to his Bunuel-inspired roots — think “Dogtooth.” You can just hear Lanthimos telling the mainstream to f*ck off. He strives to alienate the timidest of viewers and, for that, we should be grateful.

As with most anthologies, it can feel exhausting, but this one is devoid of the semi-likable nature of Lanthimos’ last film, “Poor Things”. Instead, we get a macabre, button-pushing and absurdist trio of tales that all grab a firm hold on you.

I won’t go into too much detail on the stories, as the element of surprise is key to enjoying ‘Kinds.’ What should be known is that it consists of three distinct, but very loosely connected stories. The first segment follows a man who seeks to unchain himself from the mind control of his powerful boss. The second depicts a man (Plemons) plagued by suspicions that his wife, who suddenly returned after being reported missing, is an imposter. The final segment revolves around a cultist’s quest to find a woman who can bring the dead back to life.

Lanthimos’ troupe of actors here are Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mamoudou Athie, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau and Joe Alwyn. Think of this film as a gift from Lanthimos to his old-school fans as he gives us what essentially amounts to three new films, all backed by composer Jerskin Fendrix’s bizarre clashing of piano keys.

Opening to the sounds of The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” this is a film that’s allergic to convention, obsessed with f*cked up things and willing to provoke just for the sake of provoking. It helps that Plemons, the clear standout, Stone and Dafoe do some of their best work here.

There is no meaningful resolution in “Kinds of Kindness” and that might irk viewers looking for meaty substance, but the resulting film is overwhelmingly stylish, brute and shocking. I felt its lengthy 165-minute runtime breeze by me. It’s a sort of punk-rock, take it or leave it, statement from the Greek auteur. [B+]