Poor Things

 

What may be New Wave Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos's (The Lobster, 2015) finest film to date, Poor Things, based on Australian Tony McNamara's brilliant screenplay and on Scottish Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel of the same name, addresses social norms and behavior in a creative coming of age film.

Reminiscent of Shelley's Frankenstein, this 80^th Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion winner, is an original steampunk, dark comedy-drama fantasy about a Victorian era woman, Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), who is brought back to life by disfigured scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). She wakes up with a blank mind, without any memory of social constructs or conditioning. In her quest for self-discovery and independence, she leaves behind her fiancé Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) and runs away with sleazy lawyer, Duncan Wedderbum (Mark Ruffalo).

The entire movie centers on Stone's superb, fluidic, transformative portrayal, showcasing her expansive performance arc. In addition, outstanding are performances by Ruffalo in his manipulative role and Dofoe in his confident and unorthodox portrayal.

Holly Waddington's costume designs, masterfully reflect Bella's personal evolution through her wardrobe, ranging from Bella's puffy silhouettes to a more, traditional corseted Victorian attire, and finally to bizarre, form-fitting, military-looking dresses.

Flawless are the makeup, hair and prothesis teams, Shona Heath's and James Price's elaborate set designs, as well as cinematographer Robbie Ryan's aesthetically dynamic, distorted visuals through the use of fish lenses. Principally photographed in Hungary, is the breathtaking panoramic scenery.