Poor Things Review

I rarely visit the cinema with no knowledge of what I’m about to see. In the case of Poor Things, I hadn’t seen a trailer or any cast interviews. Twitter/X labelled it “weird”, but I had no idea what to expect, especially as it was my first Yorgos Lanthimos film. I’m glad I didn’t know.

I laughed, cringed, and spent much of Poor Things in shock. But it is an excellent film, delivered with a fearlessness that belies the stature of these creatives.

Rightly and enjoyably an 18 certificate, that fearlessness pervades every aspect of the film. There are no boundaries, and you get the impression that profit wasn’t a consideration. It’s absolutely bonkers and graphic, and all the better for it.

But thinking back on it, whilst a lot happens, it’s all fairly simple. What happens when a person approaches life with not only an inquisitive mind, but also a completely blank slate when it comes to societal norms? The Victorian era setting provides much for an inquisitive mind to rail against, especially for women. So Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter has a lot to learn.

Stone is incredible, moving through Bella’s growth with absolute abandon. She has no shame, and is adventurous in her travel, sex life, and learning. Importantly, she’s never shown as less, or faulty, or is in anyway called out for discovering herself.

Ruffalo though. I absolutely adore him in this. Years of being the green guy mean I didn’t expect anything like this from him, and I’m so glad he did it. He’s hilarious! At first quite the cad, his descent into panic and pettiness is tragically amusing; a real judgement on toxic masculinity, completely losing his shit when things don’t go perfectly his way. The accent is purposely OTT and luxurious. You can tell he’s enjoying it.

From set design (beautiful) to music (jarring but so well fitting) to just how funny it all is despite approaching some serious topics, the more I think about this film the more I like it.

Based on Alasdair Gray’s book from 1992, Poor Things is my first 2024 release. It’s debauched, crazy nature will be tough for some. But it’s ultimately hopeful. Even when exposed to the best and the worst of the world, we can still make positive choices.

I’d wager it’s still going to be up there at the end of the year.