SFF Gazette's coverage on Poor Things continues as the film seems destined for greatness at this year's Academy Awards ceremony.
When Poor Things secured the highest honor at the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Lion, it seemed obvious that the film was heading towards a strong awards season push but even in our wildest dreams, we didn't predict just how many honors the film would secure for its cast and crew.
In addition to its Golden Lion win, the film won the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award at the 81st Golden Globe Awards and is nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars.
Film star, Emma Stone won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at this year's BAFTAs, Best Actress award at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards, Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy award at the Golden Globes, among several other honors. Stone is also nominated for Best Actress at this year's Oscars.
However, critics and fans are starting to turn a bit on the film as more and more of the general audience becomes curious about the Yorgos Lanthimos-directed pic thanks to its numerous awards.
Specifically, when Bella Baxter is resurrected as a Frankenstein-esque monster, she's essentially a child. However, it isn't long before she becomes sexually promiscuous and begins earning a living as a prostitute.
The film definitely has some raunchy scenes as Bella undergoes a sexual awakening. But the general audience is asking if that's appropriate, given Bella's child-like nature.
Speaking on this controversy, Stone stated, "If it helps, as the person who played it and produced it, I didn't see her as a child in any of those scenes."
Lanthimos went on to add, "But even that's too literal. If you take a film that literally, where you start discussing it in terms of the brain of a child, then you're kind of missing the point of storytelling in general. If you start to analyze the film as something that would actually happen, then of course the film doesn't work."
Stone closed out her argument by stating that she's enjoying the more mixed response to the film.
"My mom has this saying that at the start of a relationship you say, 'Oh we're so in love we finish each other's sentences.' And then, as time goes by, it becomes, 'You're always interrupting me.' "
"That can happen in a relationship with film, too, especially a film like this, that's asking more questions than giving answers. I know people who've seen the film and think it's just the sweetest romantic comedy, and others who had to watch it through their fingers. And that's great."
The Oscars take place on March 10. Poor Things has secured 11 nominations including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Adapted Screenplay and more.
Poor Things Official Synopsis: From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe).
Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.