Poor creaturesthe successful version of Barbie
While Barbie was a success in cinemas around the world, Poor creatures marked the spirit of the prestigious film festival, the Venice Film Festival (from 30 August to 9 September 2023). By starting with the Golden Lion, Yórgos Lánthimos seems to have everyone in agreement. And a few months later, it was at the Golden Globes that the film made headlines again, winning two awards. Best Comedy or Musical Film and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Film Emma Stone.
If we consider the case of Barbieand this Poor creatures he approaches in more ways than one by introducing himself the emancipation of women during his discovery of the real world. But the film with Emma Stone surpasses the one with Margot Robbie on all fronts, except on the box office front.
Because if Greta Gerwig’s work was built to support a feminist discourse to as many people as possible, grossing more than 1.4 billion dollars in revenue, it remains a clumsy popular comedy, devoid of cinematic ambition and very more cynical in its design (see the review by CinemaSeries). One of the big winners from the movie’s success was Mattel, who wasted no time and began developing dozens of movies based on their toys. In reverse, Poor creatures, adapted from the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray (1992)although less attractive to the general public, he is of rare intelligence and of exemplary modernity. And it wouldn’t be aberrant to dare to present it as a masterpiece.
Yórgos Lánthimos works miracles with Emma Stone
Poor creatures is set in an ancient era, perhaps the end of the 19th century, but in a dystopian universe that allows Yórgos Lánthimos to propose crazy visual ideas (black and white and colour). There are fantastic settings there, among Méliès’ creations and The imagination of Doctor Parnassus by Terry Gilliam. In this world there is Bella, a young woman who died, but whose body was recovered by Doctor Godwin Baxter (the excellent Willem Dafoe).
Eager to advance science, it is like Dr. Frankenstein that the surgeon, himself damaged by his father’s experiments, transplants the body of the deceased the brain of a newborn baby and brings her back to life. Bella’s mind will evolve rapidly, but she will have everything to learn.
After The favorite (2018), Yórgos Lánthimos is still shooting the best of Emma Stone. The actress probably gives her best performance here in one of her richest roles. She impresses and amuses by initially behaving like an immature child, still unable to speak. Then she, from a child, becomes an angry teenager, before becoming a young adult who inevitably discovers desire and his sexuality.
That’s right there Poor creatures it becomes exciting and fun, well paced by the editing and dialogues. Because Bella, who Doctor Baxter has always kept locked up at home, for fear that the outside world could harm her, he doesn’t know the rules of society. We then have to see her take a piece of fruit during a meal and stick it in her crotch after discovering the pleasure it could give her.
The desire of a woman above all
Bella is therefore a being who operates instinctively and who only follows his desires. In this sense he is a fascinating character, who highlights all its aberrations through his relationship with the world and the established rules. Poor creatures it is obviously a criticism of patriarchy. Because beyond the limits imposed by Baxter, he will meet other men he will try in vain to control it. To start with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo)a lawyer with whom Bella runs away to discover the world.
If the man thinks he is a hunk and one of the best in bed, he will soon be disappointed by this woman motivated by his own pleasure. After a bit of sex in the air from which Duncan emerges proud but exhausted, Bella, wanting to do it again immediately, will compare it with “his physical weakness as a man”, incapable of getting hard on command. The result is a little disappointment for Bella, and a great humiliation for Duncan, which never deserves the viewers’ sympathy. Duncan really is quite pathetic, trying to place the blame for his actions on Bella who had supposedly bewitched him. It was precisely one of the mistakes of Barbie to find an excuse for Ken’s behavior, the poor guy who was also ignored by the doll.
A controlled and funny comedy
Bella’s lack of filters is entertaining, but her journey above all allows Yórgos Lánthimos to carry forward a critical look at current society and the oppositions between beings. The director highlights social differences, poverty and subjugation in a capitalist world, and the brutality (physical and psychological) behind gender discrimination. Furthermore, Lánthimos always keeps in mind the valorization of her heroine, insisting on his legitimate right to live her life as she wishes and to do what she wants with her body. Either by entering a brothel in Paris or by confronting her with an ex-husband ready to mutilate her to calm her libido.
This does not mean, however, that the filmmaker will be satisfied Poor creatures an anti-personnel film (if that is possible). One male character remains good and caring towards Bella: Max, played by Ramy Youssef. Furthermore, Baxter will find the redemption cleverly justified. But for others, dangerously toxic, Lánthimos does not want apologies or forgiveness, favoring a conclusion as extreme as it is fun.
Poor creatures by Yórgos Lánthimos, in theaters from January 17, 2024. Above is the trailer.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
