Unveiling the Extraordinary: Emma Stone's New Movie Sparks Masterpiece Frenzy

Summary

Critics and cultural pundits have hailed "Poor Things" as a raunchy, shocking masterpiece and one of the best films of Yorgos Lanthimos' career.

Emma Stone's outstanding portrayal in the film has garnered acclaim, causing speculation that she could be a potential frontrunner for her second Best Actress Academy Award.

The movie is characterized as delightfully excessive, audaciously outrageous, and brimming with unabashed sexuality and intense brutality, resulting in a captivating and unconventional cinematic journey.

The initial reception to Poor Things is generating a lot of buzz as critics and cultural pundits are hailing it as a potential masterpiece. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who previously worked on The Favourite, and starring Emma Stone, the film is an adaptation of Alasdair Gray's novel of the same name from 1992. It tells the story of Bella, a young woman brought back to life with the brain of her unborn child, and her quest to explore the world. The impressive ensemble cast also includes Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Jerrod Carmichael.

Following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, critics and cultural experts have shared their early reactions to the movie, now that the embargo has lifted. With the official release date set for December 8, some have even provided full reviews, and it appears that the consensus is that Poor Things is a bold and provocative masterpiece. Praise has been showered upon every aspect of the film's visually stunning construction, as well as Emma Stone's exceptional performance. Read on for a selection of reactions and quotes from notable reviews:

Alex B. called the movie "the raunchiest film of the decade" and said "THE WORLD IS NOT READY."

Kaleem Aftab described the movie as "the adult version of Barbie," also calling it "awesome."

John Bleasdale took it a step further, likening the film to a combination of "Fanny Hill and Frankenhooker, infused with the distinct style of Tim Burton and an extra touch of shattered glass."

Ernest Owens confidently proclaimed that Emma Stone seems to be vying for another Best Actress Oscar with her performance in the movie.

Nicholas Barber from BBC praises this film for its unapologetic extravagance. Lanthimos' audacious and comical approach, while occasionally going overboard, delivers daringly outrageous results. As argued by various characters, delving into the extremes is necessary to witness both the beauty and ugliness of life.

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian:

Everything in it – every frame, every image, every joke, every performance – gets a gasp of excitement.

Kyle Buchanan, a writer for The New York Times, describes "Poor Things" as a captivating and unconventional film that embraces explicit sensuality and violence. However, more conservative academy voters may struggle to fully engage with the movie, particularly in its initial 20 minutes. Nevertheless, the superb technical elements of the film undeniably deserve recognition and appreciation.

Ryan Lattanzio from IndieWire claims that "Poor Things" is director Lanthimos' finest work and a potential instant classic. The film is described as humorously dark, whimsical, and offbeat, with a genuine quality that makes attempting to dissect its merits in a brief summary seem inadequate.

Is Emma Stone on Her Way to Another Oscar Nomination?

Emma Stone's lead performance in Poor Things is already generating Oscar buzz, with early reactions being extremely positive. If she receives a nomination, it would be her fourth as an actor. She was previously nominated for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) in 2015, won her first and only Oscar for La La Land in 2017, and was nominated again in 2019 for The Favourite.

Stone's previous nomination for The Favourite demonstrated her ability to secure recognition for a sexually charged performance in a Yorgos Lanthimos project. Additionally, the timing of Poor Things' release puts it in a favorable position to be a key contender during awards season. It falls within a window that ensures it won't be overlooked by awards voters but is still fresh in their minds when they make their nominations.

If she receives a nomination for her performance, Poor Things could break the actor's dry spell in terms of awards. Despite her appearance in the Oscar-winning film Cruella since her last nomination, her streak of being nominated every two years had already come to an end. It's uncertain whether the unconventional film will resonate with the Academy, but it presents Stone with her best opportunity for an accolade in quite some time.