Quartile rating: 8.5/10 · 3 ratings
Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Poor Things is a visually audacious, wildly imaginative Frankenstein riff that earns its praise across most dimensions. Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan deploy fish-eye lenses, desaturated period fantasy palettes, and surreal production design to create one of the most distinctive visual worlds in recent memory — a genuine 4 for Cinematography. Emma Stone delivers a once-in-a-generation physical and vocal performance, matched by a committed supporting cast including Mark Ruffalo at his most unhinged — Acting is a clear 4. Novelty is likewise exceptional: the film synthesizes Victorian Gothic, feminist Bildungsroman, absurdist dark comedy, and erotic fable into something genuinely singular in voice and execution. The plot, however, is more episodic than architecturally tight — Bella's picaresque journey across continents is thematically rich but structurally loose, with stretches that feel meandering — landing it at a solid 3. The ending, while satisfying thematically and tonally consistent, leans on a somewhat convenient and tidy resolution that undercuts the film's more anarchic spirit, keeping it at 3.