Tag Archives: Yorgos Lanthimos

Film reviews

Bugonia Review

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Yorgos Lanthimos always has a mind for the blinds and this time it is in terms of an alien scenario. His film, Bugonia, revolves around two misfit men and one girl. One of the most artistic and over-the-top films from Lanthimos where limits are pushed–more on the sides of graphic violence than his other works.Emma Stone once played a character from a Frankenstein perspective in Poor Things, and transitions well into a role of an alien on Earth. The question of who trust is critical.

The film focuses two men, Teddy (Jesse Plemmons) and Don (Aidan Delbis) that are obsessed with conspiracies. They live around the rural areas of Georgia and Teddy is solely focused on his crazy ideas. Don has some social issues. They both kidnap a high-profile CEO named Michelle, because they believe she is an alien with a mission to destroy all life on Earth. Going forward, the film becomes a ride of crazy and confused scenarios, while also remaining genius in  following its clever storyline. Lanthimos knows the path of creating crazy and silly while combining it with politics and science. Bugonia had me thinking in circles.

There are moments in the film where Teddy and Don visit Michelle in a locked basement. She tries to convince them that she can make life better. Teddy has problems of his own, and with that Lanthimos creates introductions to other characterizations of conflict. Bugonia does not only focus on the sci-fi individual, but also the conflicts of the others involved. This creates unique and scientific approach that is genius. Overall, the chemistry between Stone and Plemmons is the gem, because there are beliefs that are true on one end and not true on the other hand. The performance of Stone brings out a ravenous monster of surprises that is both subtle and invigorating. There is also a blend of dark comedy in the mix which audiences must be ready to stomach.

The setup around two men holding a woman hostage under the assumption she is an alien is where my mind kept boggling back and forth. It did so in a positive light, because the approach of Lanthimos was not in a predictable track, it kept continuing down the path of blindsided notions. This has been what I am used to seeing from him, especially with the many twists and bizarre scenarios I have seen from his other projects. There is always an array of aspects that will lead to the unexpected. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Bugonia.

Film reviews

Kinds of Kindness Review

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Director Yorgos Lanthimos has taken his audience on many bizarre and exhilarating journeys. From the standpoint of a manipulative in Dogtooth (2009), a place of grieving in Alps (2011), a futuristic hospital in The Lobster (2015), a surgeon making risky choices in The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), an 18th century queen who is tormented in The Favourite (2018), a woman coming back to life in Poor Things (2023), and a theory of strange events in Kinds of Kindness. This film feels like the mosaic of a play because of how the characters play different people in different yet correlated segments. It is crazy how quickly two hours and forty minutes flew by. The unique scenarios and twisted elements made it seem much shorter. 

The film begins with the actor Jesse Plemmons, who plays three characters named Robert, Daniel, and Andrew. Although accustomed to a life of wealth, he begins experiencing turmoil due to poor choices by his boss, played by Willem Dafoe. Dafoe also plays three characters named Raymond, George, and Omi. In one segment, Robert is trying to not allow his boss to control his life. However, that causes things to become even worse. Robert’s wife, played by Hong Chau, vanishes. She plays three individuals as well, named Sarah, Sharon, and Aka. These characters are experiencing a variety of tough scenarios and bad episodes.

Lanthimos has created a soap opera of a project divided into three parts. The first part is titled The Death of R.M.F. The second is titled RMF Flying. Finally, the third is called R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich. The first scenario is about trying to overcome power. The second scenario is about someone who believes his wife is an imposter, and the third is about someone who is tryingto find resurrection from the dead. Emma Stone is part of the third scenario with her roles as Rita, Liz, and Emily. As Emily, she is doing the reverse of her previous role in Poor Things because she is now the one involved with the strange task of bringing up the dead.

Another actress who brings heat to the film is Margaret Qualley. In her three roles as Vivian, Martha, and twins Ruth and Rebecca, Qualley is a force of nature. In this film, tensions are bizarre, creepy, and all linked together. It sometimes feels like weird extra-long TV episodes. Lanthimos taps unnerving emotions in Kinds of Kindness. With each character playing different people in different sequences, there are conflicting dynamics and unexpected resolutions.

During the film, the issue of crossed boundaries kept coming to my mind. Many of the events in Kinds of Kindness are based on morals that raise red flags. The realm of a triptych fable is part of the inner complexity of Kinds of Kindness. On some level, the transitions do not feel adequate in the context of believability. 

The title itself sets the tone of interesting thoughts and motives. Kinds of Kindness is a cat-and-mouse game that has deadly circumstances. Does it execute well? I felt the writing fell flat at times. Lanthimos can do bizarre right, but can he diversify it effectively? The slew of events led to confusion as scenes meant to be enticing became blurred. Kinds of Kindness is a film of endurance, but it tries too hard so is not a masterpiece. There are too many dots to connect and limited flow with the mixture of characters. Two-and-a-half out of four stars.

59th Chicago International Film Festival, Film reviews

Poor Things Review

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Director Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his brilliant use of bizarre and downright weird imagery; however, he knows how to blend these elements with success and brilliance. He builds resilience by pushing the envelope of his strange ideas as a director. He did so with The Lobster (2015), The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017 and my top favorite of his), and The Favourite (2018). In Poor Things he turns up the volume on the grotesque factor combining humor, daring, and genius. It is definitely one of his most sexualized films, but also one where the context is intended for those who want to experience a film that is different and not one’s normal romantic or sci-fi adventure. The plot line is filled with twists and scientific anomalies which lead to hysterical and invigorating outcomes.

Poor Things takes place in a historic setting introducing Dr. Godwin Baxter (played by Willem Dafoe), a professional of unorthodox practices. His studies focus on bringing people andvarious creatures back to life. The film quickly moves into eerie and daring territory. His assistant is Max McCandless (played by Ramy Youssef), and he oversees moderating the experiments of the doctor. Baxter’s most ambitious project is Bella Baxter (played by Emma Stone). Bella has been brought back to life with a brain that is very undeveloped and out of tune. This has left Bella in a state where she is always anxious to experience new things, yet has no filter or social awareness. Her brain and thought processes are so muddled that she keeps pursuing activities that would be considered acts of public indecency. Although she is eager to feel out her new life, she does not know how to hold it together. Being under the care of Baxter and McCandless, Bella finds herself angry that her existence seems uneventful. Suddenly, Bella meets a lawyer, Duncan Wedderburn (played by Mark Ruffalo). Bella falls instantly in love, and she runs away with him. Her undeveloped brain and state of mind are out of whack, but something inside of her is determined to feel connected to the world and find a sense of fairness. Bella’s struggle is that her brain is so sexualized thather behaviors remain highly inappropriate.

Stone’s performance is gutsy in her portrayal of a woman with such eager sexuality. Under the direction of Lanthimos, she depicts a creature whose sense of desired connection has become confused with satisfaction. It is a film where there areno limits. Also, Dafoe’s performance is fierce as Baxter, whoseego and fanaticism blind him to the reality that his procedures have failed. He is unrelenting in his efforts to get Bella back. Dafoe is a master of his craft despite the strange calling of his character. As for Ruffalo, he is playing an attorney who is taking a risk. One with a girl whose brain is undeveloped. The characterizations surrounding Poor Things are like those of Young Frankenstein on steroids.

Lanthimos often plays with the theme of matters getting out of control, and the consequences having to be dealt with. In this story, it is a situation of finding the right direction for Bella.With the film being two hours and twenty-one minutes long, heincorporates all kinds of scenarios to take her on a journey that explores what happens when desires are allowed to manifest themselves without restriction. The film begins in moments of black and white and then transitions to color. The direction of Lanthimos takes a serious approach like a dark novel, but then transitions to brilliant cinematography with an undertone of darkness. The performance of Stone craves for sex, love, experiences, and seeing the real-world. It is one wanting connection, but in the context of behaviors that are immoral. It does go intentionally overboard in some moments, forcing the viewer to question one’s own desires and constraints. That element is the genius of this film. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Poor Things.