Emma Stone's Discovery of Her Blissful Role in Poor Things
Emma Stone's Poor Things is a triumphant showcase of her talent, as she delivers a captivating performance in Yorgos Lanthimos' feminist romp across Europe This film goes beyond gender politics, offering a unique and compelling narrative
Tony McNamara's son deserves a share of the earnings from "Poor Things," given the success of the Oscar-nominated screenwriter's adaptation of Alastair Gray's novel. The uproarious and often risque film tells the story of Bella Baxter, a deceased woman reanimated with the brain of an unborn child, and is filled with memorable quotes. One particularly memorable moment occurs when Bella, upon hearing a crying infant, abruptly stands up in the middle of dinner and declares, "I must go punch that baby."
"This is my favorite line," McNamara shared with CNN, emphasizing that he does not want to take credit for it.
"We were working on Bella - the younger character Bella - and she was being too nice," he explained. "I found it strange because children aren't typically like that." McNamara recounted his experience at a restaurant with his three-year-old son to director Yorgos Lanthimos, where his son became annoyed with a young customer. "Children act purely on instinct. They think, 'That's annoying to me. I'm going to put an end to it,'" the screenwriter remembered. Then the toddler suggested an obvious solution: "Let's punch that baby."
Yorgos insisted that they needed that spirit, and it ultimately made it into the film.
Their movie, a wild and adventurous tale inspired by Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Terry Gilliam's worldbuilding, explores themes of desire and the struggles of women in society. In a way, "Poor Things" is like the bold, thought-provoking cousin of Greta Gerwig's "Barbie," but with even greater daring and ambition that surpasses that of big-budget blockbusters. After winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the movie is now being released worldwide with hopes for awards season recognition.
Bella, portrayed by the exceptional Emma Stone, is the outcome of an experiment conducted by Dr. Godwin Baxter (played by Willem Dafoe), a daring scientist residing in a Victorian steampunk London. Dr. Godwin discovered Bellas lifeless body in the river Thames and proceeded to transplant it with the brain of a baby. Following a surge of electricity, a new life is brought into existence; despite the initial disconnect between her brain and body, Bellas mind rapidly advances beyond infancy. Almost immediately, she yearns for freedom, and upon the arrival of the refined Duncan Wedderburn (portrayed by Mark Ruffalo) at her door, captivated by her beauty, she recognizes an opportunity for adventure.
When we first meet Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) in "Poor Things," she has the brain of an infant in an adult's body.
Searchlight Pictures
But her brain soon races out of infancy as she grows to learn the world.
Searchlight Pictures
The fantasy Victorian-era Europe Bella adventures through includes Lisbon (pictured), Alexandria and Paris.
Searchlight Pictures
Lanthimos had been interested in adapting Gray's novel for several years, but struggled to find funding for the project. However, after the success of "The Favourite" (2018) and its ten Oscar nominations, "Poor Things" became a more viable endeavor.
McNamara's adaptation is a substantial reworking of the original material. While the book is presented as a series of letters written by male characters in Bella's life, McNamara's screenplay gives Bella agency to tell her own story.
McNamara expressed, "We were committed to presenting the movie from her perspective, giving us the freedom to invent parts of the journey as needed, since not everything was readily available. I admire every aspect of her."
Emma Stone expressed her admiration for Bella, saying, "I love everything about her. The notion of a woman beginning anew and embracing all the experiences life has to offer - both positive and negative. Her insatiable curiosity and thirst for adventure is truly inspiring."
Helping Bella to learn to walk with her baby brain was tough, but Stone said that she couldn't look to her own toddler for guidance.
"Yorgos and I realized early on - Tony too - that it wasn't comparable to a typical child's development," she said. "She's already in a fully grown body, so it's not like her bones are growing as she's learning to walk… It was almost like an invention, more robotic, staccato, or unusual."
Ramy Youssef portrays McCandles, Godwin's assistant and Bella's romantic interest, who is responsible for overseeing her progress.
"Stone is just on a different level," Youssef remarked. "She is incredibly emotionally attuned, the way she portrayed her character. Her ability to embody various stages of her character's growth, regardless of the shooting sequence, was truly impressive."
Bella's adventure begins in Portugal, and then takes her to Alexandria, Egypt, and Paris as she embarks on a psychosexual journey. Sex plays a significant role in "Poor Things," as it helps Bella understand her body and how others desire it. Starting with a disturbing first encounter in her youth, Bella's perspective on sex evolves into a more empowered state. Her outlook reflects a sex-positive, third-wave feminism, and she eventually turns to prostitution to support her studies, believing that "We are our own means of production."
Director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone deep in conversation on the set of "Poor Things."
Atsushi Nishijima/Searchlight Pictures
"Poor Things" offers a strong counterargument to the notion that sex scenes lack narrative importance. McNamara, known for writing "The Favourite" and "The Great," brings valuable insight to the debate.
"I take a straightforward approach: I never write a sex scene," he stated. "I'm writing a scene that develops characters and advances the story. If they happen to be having sex for that to occur, then it's a sex scene.
"The notion that sexuality isn't a part of humanity and shouldn't be depicted - I don't really comprehend that. It's somewhat insincere for an artist to think that way, and insincere for a society," he concluded.
"McNamara continued to emphasize that our attitudes towards trauma play a significant role in its impact. While film and TV have sometimes perpetuated negative attitudes, the industry is now making a conscious effort to address this. Yorgos and Emma brought up an important point: depicting violence in movies is widely accepted, even at a PG rating, but portraying our sexuality is often met with criticism. It's a perplexing double standard for us."
Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), an irredeemable cad and one of Bella's not-so-suitable suitors.
Searchlight Pictures
Bella shamelessly embraces her sexual desires, openly disarming her suitors with her frankness. The play boldly delves into this theme with graphic and often humorous scenes that highlight the men's attempts to control Bella.
Duncan Weddeburn is a prime example of this, as Ruffalo jokingly refers to his character as "my id," pointing out his classic rake-like behavior.
"He is so self-absorbed with his own words⦠or his language is so excessively vulgar," he remarked. However, when Bella openly speaks about sex in her direct manner, Duncan scolds her, saying, "You should limit yourself to three phrases: How wonderful; Delighted; and How do they make the pastry so crisp?" (resulting in a slap). As Bella's sexual desire and curiosity surpasses Duncan's, he quickly loses his influence over her.
Godwin, the father figure to Bella, whom she calls "God," is more complicated and controlling. Maimed by his own father, a scientist, to Godwin, Bella is the child he could never have otherwise.
It was the most joyous role Ive ever played"
Emma Stone
Dafoe praised the writing, noting, "The way he is positioned in relation to Bella's journey is intriguing to me."
"He doesn't focus on being a victim or his tragedy. Instead, he strives to transform it into something beautiful," the actor added. "He represents the darker side of Bella's experiences - they are both individuals who have been treated unfairly."
"Hes a man of science (and) he feels humiliated that he allows emotions to get involved," Dafoe added. "He basically falls in love with her - not totally paternal(ly)."
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Ramy Youssef and Willem Dafoe star as Max McCandles and Godwin Baxter in the film "Poor Things." Godwin, one of the men in Bella's orbit, played a role in bringing her to life, while Max was brought in to study her.
Bella's allure in "Poor Things" is undeniable, drawing people in with her beauty and intellectual growth. The film highlights Bella's innocence as she navigates societal norms before evolving into a critical thinker. While the movie's political undertones revolve around gender dynamics, McNamara notes that "Poor Things" encompasses more than just a struggle for female independence.
Yorgos coined the term, "We're creating a film about the monstrosity that is society," the screenwriter stated.
"We are unable to allow individuals to freely and curiously live their lives and carve their own paths. It appears to be beyond our capabilities as human beings, and as a society," he further commented.
But the film also attempts to have it both ways. From a Freudian perspective, Bella is initially driven by her id, but as she grows, she becomes aware of and rejects the societal constraints of the superego. Instead, she focuses on developing her ego - her "questing self" - with the belief that her personal growth can lead to societal change in the future. "If I understand the world, I can make it better," Bella confidently proclaims.
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Stone's portrayal of Bella Baxter is being talked about as a strong awards season contender.
Courtesy Searchlight Pictures
Bella's portrayal in the film serves as a reminder of our imperfections, and although this theme is not new to cinema, Stone's interpretation brings a unique perspective.
Reflecting on her performance, the actress shared, "I initially considered it my most challenging role, but in hindsight, it turned out to be the most gratifying experience of my career."
By the end of the movie, Duncan Wedderburn shouts at Bella with venom, calling her a woman with "an insatiable body and a critical mind."
Despite being intended as an insult, the film suggests otherwise. Ultimately, "Poor Things" celebrates these qualities and presents them as complementary. The phrase "If I know the world, I can improve it" carries a deliberate double meaning.
"Poor Things" receives a wide release in the US on December 22, and is released in the UK on January 12.
Additional reporting by Sandy Thin.
