Jump to content

Poor Things (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Poor Things
Theatrical release poster
Directed byYorgos Lanthimos
Screenplay byTony McNamara
Based onPoor Things
by Alasdair Gray
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRobbie Ryan
Edited byYorgos Mavropsaridis
Music byJerskin Fendrix
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01) (Venice)
  • December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08) (United States)
  • January 12, 2024 (2024-01-12) (United Kingdom and Ireland)
Running time
142 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$35 million[2]
Box office$117.6 million[3][4]

Poor Things is a 2023 film[a] directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Tony McNamara, based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray. A co-production between Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the film stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Jerrod Carmichael.[6] Stone plays Bella Baxter, a young woman in Victorian London who has been brought back to life via brain transplant.

Principal photography took place in Hungary from August to December 2021. Poor Things premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2023, and won the Golden Lion there. The film received critical acclaim and was released theatrically in the United States on December 8, 2023, and in Ireland and the United Kingdom on January 12, 2024, by Searchlight Pictures. It grossed $117 million worldwide on a budget of $35 million.

Poor Things was named one of the top ten films of 2023 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute, and received various accolades, including four wins at the 96th Academy Awards, two at the 81st Golden Globe Awards, and five at the 77th British Academy Film Awards; Stone won Best Actress at each ceremony.

Plot

[edit]

In late-Victorian London,[b] the medical student Max McCandles is recruited by the mad scientist Godwin Baxter to record the behaviour of a strange, nearly mute woman living in Godwin's house. Godwin reveals that Bella's body is that of a woman who was pregnant and committed suicide by leaping off a bridge; Godwin replaced the woman's brain with that of the fetus, giving her an infant's mind, and named her Bella Baxter.

As weeks pass, Bella's vocabulary improves and she exhibits childlike wonder at the world. With Godwin's encouragement, Max falls in love with Bella and proposes marriage. Bella accepts, but soon discovers masturbation and sexual pleasure, leading her to run off with Duncan Wedderburn, a debauched lawyer, to Lisbon. There, they have near-constant intercourse as Bella lives purely for pleasure. She is mistakenly addressed as "Victoria Blessington" by a fellow hotel guest.

As Bella becomes difficult for Duncan to control, he smuggles her onto a cruise ship, where she befriends two passengers who open her mind to philosophy. Duncan attempts to stunt her growth to no avail, and indulges in drinking and gambling. During a stop at Alexandria, Bella witnesses the suffering of the poor and becomes distraught. Wishing to help them, she entrusts Duncan's winnings to unscrupulous members of the crew, who falsely promise to give it to them. Unable to afford the rest of the trip, Bella and Duncan are dropped off at Marseille and make their way to Paris, penniless. Seeking money and accommodation, Bella begins working at a brothel. Enraged, Duncan breaks down and Bella abandons him. At the brothel, she comes under the tutelage of Madame Swiney and begins a relationship with fellow prostitute Toinette, who introduces her to socialism.

Now terminally ill, Godwin asks Max to bring Bella to him. Max finds her after tracking down Duncan, who has been institutionalized. Back in London, Bella reconciles with Godwin and renews her plans to marry Max, but their wedding is interrupted by Duncan and General Alfie Blessington. Alfie, addressing Bella as Victoria, declares that they were married before her disappearance and that he has come to reclaim her. Bella leaves Max to learn of her past life, but discovers Alfie's violent and sadistic nature. Bella realizes that she was Victoria, and that she killed herself to escape Alfie.

Alfie confines Bella to his mansion and tells her that he plans to have her clitoris removed and impregnate her, threatening her with a gun and demanding she drink a sedative. She tosses the sedative in his face. Alfie accidentally shoots himself in the foot and passes out. Bella returns to Godwin's house and, with Max's help, transplants a goat's brain into Alfie's head. Godwin dies peacefully with Bella and Max at his side. Bella, Max, and Toinette begin a new life in Godwin's house, while Alfie eats grass happily.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]
Director and co-producer Yorgos Lanthimos

Produced by Film4 Productions, Element Pictures, TSG Entertainment, and Searchlight Pictures, development on the film began as early as 2009, when Lanthimos went to Scotland to discuss the acquisition of the rights to Poor Things with the author, Alasdair Gray. "He was a very lovely man", Lanthimos said. "Unfortunately, he died just a couple of years before we actually made the film, but he was very special and energetic; he was 80-something [when we met], and as soon as I got there, he had seen Dogtooth and said, 'I had my friend put on the DVD, because I don't know how to operate these things, but I think you're very talented, young man.'" Lanthimos said Gray took him on a personal tour of Glasgow, where Gray showed him several places he had incorporated into the story.[8]

While filming The Favourite (2018), Lanthimos revisited the project, which he discussed with Emma Stone, who starred in that film. He began developing Poor Things more actively after the success of The Favourite: "After the relative success of The Favourite, where I actually made a slightly more expensive film that was successful, people were more inclined to allow me to do whatever it is that I wanted, so I just went back to Gray's book and said, 'This is what I want to do.' It was a long process, but the book was always on my mind." While developing the film, Lanthimos and Stone collaborated on the short film Bleat (2022).[9]

Pre-production

[edit]

Poor Things was announced in February 2021.[10] Lanthimos said that working with Stone again gave him an advantage, as they had developed a mutual trust. Stone also discussed how the process of making Poor Things was different from making The Favourite because she also acted as a producer: "It was so interesting to be involved in how the film was being pieced together, from cast to department heads to what have you. Ultimately, Yorgos was the one making those decisions, but I was very involved in the process, which started during the pandemic; we were reaching out to people and casting and everything during that time, because we couldn't go anywhere."[9]

Casting

[edit]

Willem Dafoe entered negotiations to join the cast in March 2021.[11] In April, Ramy Youssef was in talks to join.[12] Dafoe and Youssef were confirmed to join in May, with Mark Ruffalo and Jerrod Carmichael also added to the cast.[13][14] In September, Christopher Abbott was cast.[15] In November, Margaret Qualley and Suzy Bemba were cast,[16] with Kathryn Hunter also revealing she had a role in the film.[17]

In preparation for her role, Stone took dance lessons and accidentally dyed her hair black. Lanthimos liked the contrast between the dark hair and Stone's fair complexion.[18][19] Stone said she was attracted to the idea of portraying a woman reborn with a liberated mindset free from societal pressures:

It's such a fairy tale, and a metaphor—clearly, this can't actually happen—but the idea that you could start anew as a woman, as this body that's already formed, and see everything for the first time and try to understand the nature of sexuality, or power, or money or choice, the ability to make choices and live by your own rules and not society's—I thought that was a really fascinating world to go into.

Stone especially appreciated Bella's lack of shame:

Even though Bella has obviously been through trauma in her life, it just isn't there for her now. She was the most joyous character in the world to play, because she has no shame about anything. She's new, you know? I've never had to build a character before that didn't have things that had happened to them or had been put on them by society throughout their lives. It was an extremely freeing experience to be her.[9]

Youssef said that to prepare for their roles, he and Dafoe attended mortician school. Reflecting on the "experimental theater games" Lanthimos assigned the cast before filming, Dafoe said, "You're very patient with everyone, and everyone's patient with you. They need to be confident in what they're doing, because what we're doing is quite risky. It's not a normal film."[18] Dafoe spent six hours each day in the hair and makeup department—four hours getting extensive prosthetics applied to his face at the start of the day and two hours to get it all removed at the end.[20]

Discussing the male characterizations, Lanthimos acknowledged that while each male character was different and had his own motivation, they all reflected male attitudes typical of the story's Victorian setting. He said:

There are variations, I guess, but in this film, there's a general tendency to try to control [Bella]—even if it's done in a caring or subtle way, in the way that a parent might or that [Dafoe's character] Baxter does, or just being infatuated in the way that Ramy is. You know, being a nice man deep down, but still having the characteristics of a man of that era.

Stone also said that "the more agency Bella gets, the more she learns and grows, the more it drives these men insane. The more she has an opinion and her own wants and needs and all of that, it makes them crazy; they want her to stay this sort of pure thing."[9]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography took place in Hungary, beginning in August 2021 at Origo Studios in Budapest[21] and wrapping that December.[22] It is the first feature film to be partially shot on Kodak's 35mm Ektachrome color reversal motion picture film stock since its revival in 2018.[23]

Influences

[edit]

According to cinematographer Robbie Ryan, Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula served as the main source of inspiration to everyone making the picture.[24] Other films that served as influences were Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's Black Narcissus (1947), Federico Fellini's And The Ship Sails On (1983), and several films by Roy Andersson.[25]

Costumes

[edit]

Lanthimos worked closely with costume designer Holly Waddington to reflect Bella's growth and development through her wardrobe, from the more puffy silhouettes of her childlike era to the nearly corseted gown she wears at the film's climax.[26][27][28] Stone elaborated on Bella's growth as reflected through her costumes, noting how at the beginning of the story she dresses in more traditional clothing and dresses more bizarrely as she transforms. She said:

I loved that element of, how would Bella put clothing together with the way her mind works at this point? At the end, there are these very military-looking dresses that look like nothing you've seen Bella wear; things are much more form-fitting and constrained, but that's because she's come to a place where she's grown and decided who she is and what she's going to do. She's not assimilating, necessarily, but there's just more structure there.[9]

Music

[edit]

Poor Things was the first film scored by the pop musician Jerskin Fendrix. Milan Records released the soundtrack album in conjunction with the film's release date, December 8, 2023. Two singles, "Bella" and "Lisbon", were released on November 14.[29]

Genre

[edit]

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called Poor Things "genre-defying".[5] Critics have described its genre as a sex comedy, gothic comedy, black comedy, and an absurdist comedy.[30][31][5] Some noted steampunk elements in the visual design.[32][7][33][34]

Release

[edit]

Poor Things had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2023,[35] and also screened at the Telluride Film Festival,[36] the New York Film Festival,[37] the BFI London Film Festival,[38] the Busan International Film Festival,[39] and the Sitges Film Festival.[40] The film had a limited theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures in the United States on December 8, 2023, and began a wide release on January 19, 2024.[41][42] It was released in Ireland and the United Kingdom on January 12, 2024.[43] It was previously scheduled to be released on September 8, 2023,[44][45] but was delayed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[41]

Home media

[edit]

Poor Things was released on digital platforms on February 27, 2024,[46] and became available for streaming on Hulu in the U.S. on March 7[47] and on Disney+ in Canada the same day.[48] The film was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on Blu-ray and DVD on March 12.[46]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Poor Things grossed $34.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $82.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $117.2 million.[3][4]

In its limited opening weekend, it made $644,000 from nine theaters, a per-venue average of $71,556 (the third-best of 2023).[49] Expanding to 82 theaters the following weekend, it made $2.2 million, finishing 10th.[50] In its third weekend it made $2.4 million from 800 theaters, and a total of $3.4 million over the four-day Christmas frame.[51] Following its 11 Oscar nominations, it expanded from 900 theaters to 2,300 in its eighth week of release and made $3.08 million, an increase of 43% from the previous weekend.[52] The next weekend it made $2.2 million.[53]

Critical response

[edit]
Emma Stone received her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 380 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "Wildly imaginative and exhilaratingly over the top, Poor Things is a bizarre, brilliant tour de force for director Yorgos Lanthimos and star Emma Stone."[54] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 88 out of 100, based on 62 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[55] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while 68% of those polled by PostTrak called the film "excellent", with 75% saying they would definitely recommend it.[49] Glamour wrote that the film "received widespread critical acclaim following its world premiere" and that Stone was "praised for her hilariously bold and fearless sex scenes" in it.[56]

Stephanie Zacharek of Time wrote that Poor Things is "Lanthimos' finest film so far, a strange, gorgeous-looking picture that extends generosity both to its characters and the audience". She called Stone's performance "wonderful—vital, exploratory, almost lunar in its perfect oddness".[57] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it a "virtuoso comic epic" and added that Stone had given a "hilarious, beyond-next-level performance".[58] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter termed it "an insanely enjoyable fairy tale", adding that Stone "gorges on it in a fearless performance that traces an expansive arc most actors could only dream about".[5] Variety's Guy Lodge also wrote that the film "rests on a single astonishing performance by Stone".[59]

BBC Culture's Nicholas Barber found the film "outrageous and hilarious", comparing it to the work of Wes Anderson and Terry Gilliam. The review also noted that the novel's realistic 19th-century setting had been changed to a fantastical "steam-punk wonderland", and that some of its satirical humor and most of its socialist and feminist themes had been toned down.[60] Reviews by The Guardian,[58] Variety[59] and Entertainment Weekly[61] also emphasize the setting's steampunk elements. Manohla Dargis, chief critic of The New York Times, was not as impressed. She felt the story became more "monotonal, flat and dull" over time, writing that the movie's "design is rich, its ideas thin. … It isn't long into Poor Things that you start to feel as if you were being bullied into admiring a film that's so deeply self-satisfied there really isn't room for the two of you". But Dargis too lauded Stone's acting.[62]

Ramin Setoodeh and Zack Sharf in Variety wrote, "Not everyone loved Poor Things. A stream of [Venice] theatergoers bolted for the exit during some of the racier scenes."[63] Mick LaSalle at the San Francisco Chronicle called the film "a 141-minute mistake", writing, "Worst of all, it's dishonest. It purports to be a feminist document, but it defines a woman's autonomy as the ability to be exploited and not care. ... What version of feminism are these guys—Lanthimos and screenwriter Tony McNamara—trying to sell us here?"[64] Film critic Scott Mantz applauded LaSalle's post, finding the film "a seriously misguided take on female empowerment", though he praised the film's ambition and production values.[65]

Angelica Jade Bastién of Vulture warned readers, "This isn't a sincere treatise on female sexuality, it's a dark comedy for people who carry around an NPR tote bag", and criticized the film for failing to take a "sincere interest in the interior conflicts" of its protagonist. Bastién identified the decision to make Bella Baxter mentally a child as the "primary failure of Poor Things' sex scenes", citing Bella's depiction as an example of the "born sexy yesterday" trope. "In many ways", she wrote, "the film demonstrates the limits of the modern cis-male auteur's vision for and about women—particularly their sexual selves." Praise was saved for Holly Waddington's costuming, which Bastién called "the greatest triumph of the film".[66]

The film has been subject to scrutiny in Gray's native Scotland due to its seeming disregard for the source material and its Scottish roots,[67] with online documentary channel Ossian presenting a portrayal of the true origins of Poor Things and its Scottish setting.[68] Those closest to Gray have suggested that Lanthimos's interpretation of the source material was something Gray agreed to in the early 2010s, when contractual terms for a screenplay were drawn up.[69]

Accolades

[edit]

Poor Things won the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.[70] At the 96th Academy Awards, it received 11 nominations, including Best Picture, and won 4 awards, including Best Actress for Stone.[71][72] At the 81st Golden Globe Awards, it received seven nominations and won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Stone.[73][74] At the 29th Critics' Choice Awards, it received 13 nominations, winning for Best Actress.[75][76] It received 11 nominations at the 77th British Academy Film Awards and won 5 awards, including for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[77][78] The American Film Institute and the National Board of Review named Poor Things one of 10 best films of the year.[79][80]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The film has been referenced as a "genre-defying" piece of work,[5] with critics labeling it a sex comedy, black comedy and absurdist comedy, and noting its steampunk-like visual design. See the corresponding section of this article for further information regarding the film's genre.
  2. ^ The period of the film is "difficult to pin"[7] as various futuristic and fantasy elements are included in the cityscapes of Lisbon and Alexandria.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Poor Things (18)". BBFC. January 1, 2024. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "After 'The Favourite,' Yorgos Lanthimos could do anything. He went wilder than ever". Los Angeles Times. November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Poor Things". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 29, 2024.Edit this at Wikidata
  4. ^ a b "Poor Things (2023) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Rooney, David (September 1, 2023). "'Poor Things' Review: Emma Stone Is Stupendous as a Reanimated Woman Reinventing Herself in Yorgos Lanthimos' Fantastical Odyssey". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "Emma Stone Will Creep You Out in the 'Poor Things' Trailer". W. May 11, 2023. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Ide, Wendy (January 14, 2024). "Poor Things review – Emma Stone transfixes in Yorgos Lanthimos's thrilling carnival of oddness". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Smith, Jeremy (June 12, 2023). "Poor Things Author Was A Fan Of Yorgos Lanthimos From The Start". /Film. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e Specter, Emma (May 31, 2023). "Exclusive: Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos on Creating a Woman Free of Shame in Poor Things". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  10. ^ White, James (February 3, 2021). "Yorgos Lanthimos And Emma Stone Reportedly Reuniting For Frankenstein-Style Tale Poor Things". Empire. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 10, 2021). "Willem Dafoe In Talks To Co-Star In Yorgos Lanthimos Adaptation of 'Poor Things' For Searchlight and Film4". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  12. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 13, 2021). "Ramy Youssef In Talks To Join Emma Stone In Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Poor Things' For Searchlight & Film4". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Galuppo, Mia (May 21, 2021). "Mark Ruffalo Joins Emma Stone in Yorgos Lanthimos Feature 'Poor Things'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Jackson, Angelique (May 25, 2021). "Jerrod Carmichael Joins Emma Stone in Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Poor Things'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  15. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 2, 2021). "Christopher Abbott Joins Emma Stone In Yorgos Lanthimos' Adaptation of 'Poor Things' For Searchlight And Film4". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Kay, Jeremy (November 30, 2021). "Rising star Suzy Bemba joins Yorgos Lanthimos's 'Poor Things' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  17. ^ Rottenberg, Josh (November 11, 2021). "Joel Coen's 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' has big stars. But it's Kathryn Hunter who steals the show". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Travis, Ben (August 1, 2023). "Willem Dafoe Went To Mortician School For Poor Things: 'It's Not A Normal Film' – Exclusive Image". Empire. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Maytum, Matt (August 11, 2023). "Emma Stone's unique Poor Things character look was actually a mistake". Total Film. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  20. ^ "Willem Dafoe's 'Poor Things' Makeup Took Six Hours Each Day to Get On: I'd Show Up at 3 A.M., 'Meditating and Trying to Deal With Standing Still'". Variety. November 11, 2023. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  21. ^ Varga, Denes (October 5, 2021). "Hungarian Film Industry Is Booming in 2021". Film New Europe Association. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  22. ^ "Poor Things will film in Hungary, starring Emma Stone". Budapest Reporter. June 27, 2021. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "DP Robbie Ryan ISC BSC Conjured Up Colorful, Atmospheric Looks for 'Poor Things' Using Kodak 35mm B&W, Color Negative and Ektachrome Reversal Film Stocks". Kodak. January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "Poor Things' Robbie Ryan on lighting a sci-fi sex comedy, being inspired by Francis Ford Coppola". Digital Trends. December 9, 2023. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  25. ^ "Creating the look of 'Poor Things': Flying trams, Belle Époque inspirations and Emma Stone's hair". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Ryzik, Melena (January 2, 2024). "Unfurling the Unusual Costumes of 'Poor Things'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Laffly, Tomris (January 15, 2024). ""We'd Have These Practical Conversations About How Sex Would Be Achieved in These Costumes": Costume Designer Holly Waddington On the Historical Rule-Breaking of Her Work in Poor Things". Filmmaker. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  28. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (December 8, 2023). "How Knickers, a 'Condom Coat' and a State of Undress Define Emma Stone's Costume Arc in 'Poor Things'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  29. ^ "Jerskin Fendrix Scoring Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Poor Things'". Film Music Reporter. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  30. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (September 1, 2023). "'Poor Things' Review: Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone's Brazenly Weird Sex Comedy Is an Instant Classic". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  31. ^ Collin, Robbie (September 1, 2023). "Poor Things, review: Emma Stone's raunchy gothic comedy is unlike anything you've seen in years". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  32. ^ Monson, Leigh (December 6, 2023). "Poor Things review: Emma Stone comes to life in a feminist masterpiece". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  33. ^ Hornaday, Ann (December 4, 2023). "'Poor Things': Bawdy and boundary-pushing, but also revelatory". The Washington Post.
  34. ^ Roeper, Richard (December 13, 2023). "Strikingly original 'Poor Things' imagines big things in its twisted but fantastical world". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  35. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (July 25, 2023). "Venice Lineup Includes Films by Bradley Cooper, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, David Fincher and More". Variety. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  36. ^ Thompson, Anne (August 30, 2023). "2023 Telluride Film Festival Lineup Leans on Filmmakers Like Lanthimos, Fennell, Haigh, Triet, and More". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  37. ^ "61st New York Film Festival Main Slate Announced". Film at Lincoln Center. August 8, 2023. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  38. ^ Ntim, Zac (August 31, 2023). "BFI London Film Festival Full Lineup: 'The Book Of Clarence' World Premiere; Scorsese, Miyazaki, Lanthimos & Fincher Among Headline Galas". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  39. ^ "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  40. ^ "The Festival's 56th Edition Kicks Off by Announcing its Complete Lineup". Sitges Film Festival. September 12, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  41. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (July 25, 2023). "Searchlight's 'Poor Things' Starring Emma Stone Pushes Release Date From September To December". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  42. ^ Sacal, Andrea (November 23, 2023). "Emma Stone Is Scientifically Resurrected In 'Poor Things' Trailer". HypeBeast. Archived from the original on November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  43. ^ Searchlight Pictures [@SearchlightUK] (July 28, 2023). "A film by Yorgos Lanthimos. Premiering at this year's Venice Film Festival. In UK and Irish cinemas January 12, 2024" (Tweet). Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 28, 2023). "Emma Stone Reteam With Yorgos Lanthimos 'Poor Things' Sets Early Fall Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  45. ^ Pearce, Leonard (April 28, 2023). "First Images from Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things, Set for September Release". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  46. ^ a b Tingley, Anna (February 12, 2024). "'Poor Things' Sets Digital, Blu-ray Release With Deleted Scenes and Special Features". Variety. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  47. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 28, 2024). "Emma Stone Searchlight Pic Poor Things Hitting Hulu Prior To Oscar Weekend". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  48. ^ McKechnie, Brian (February 29, 2024). "When you can watch Poor Things on Disney+ Canada". Home with Brian. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  49. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 10, 2023). "Hayao Miyazaki Notches Record $12M+ U.S. Opening With 'The Boy And The Heron'; 'Renaissance' Loses Glam With −77% Drop – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  50. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 17, 2023). "'Wonka' Yummy With $39M Opening As Musicals Bounce Back At The Box Office – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  51. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 24, 2023). "Christmas Box Office Slows Down: 'Aquaman 2' $38M-$39M, 'Wonka' $26M, 'Migration' $17M & More – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  52. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 28, 2024). "'The Beekeeper' Looks To Sting 'Mean Girls' During Woeful Weekend Without Wide Releases; How 'Barbenheimer' & Oscar Best Pic Noms Fared – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  53. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 3, 2024). "Apple Original Films' Argylle With C+ CinemaScore & Near $17M Opening Isn't Cutting It At Weekend Box Office – Saturday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  54. ^ "Poor Things". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 29, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  55. ^ "Poor Things". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  56. ^ Waheed, Jabeen (September 4, 2023). "Emma Stone praised by critics for 'fearless' and 'wacky' sex scenes in new sci-fi fantasy film Poor Things". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  57. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (September 1, 2023). "Venice Review: Emma Stone Works Twisted Fairytale Magic in Poor Things". Time. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  58. ^ a b Bradshaw, Peter (September 1, 2023). "Poor Things review – Emma Stone has a sexual adventure in Yorgos Lanthimos's virtuoso comic epic". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  59. ^ a b Lodge, Guy (September 1, 2023). "'Poor Things' Review: Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos Fly Their Freak Flags in a Delicious Coming-of-Age Story Like No Other". Variety. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  60. ^ Barber, Nicholas. "Poor Things review: Emma Stone is 'perfectly cast' in this truly bizarre female Frankenstein story". BBC. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  61. ^ "Poor Things review: Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo lead a demented comedy of self-creation and degradation". Entertainment Weekly. September 3, 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  62. ^ Dargis, Manohla (December 7, 2023). "'Poor Things' Review: Monster Mash". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  63. ^ Setoodeh, Ramin (September 1, 2023). "Emma Stone's Graphic 'Poor Things' Sex Scenes and Tour-De-Force Performance Make Venice Erupt in 8-Minute Standing Ovation for Yorgos Lanthimos". Variety. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  64. ^ LaSalle, Mick (December 6, 2023). "Review: 'Poor Things' is a fractured 'Frankenstein' tale that falls flat". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  65. ^ LaSalle, Mick (December 18, 2023). "I don't like 'Poor Things,' and I'm not alone". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  66. ^ "Is Poor Things the Best We Can do for Female Sexuality Onscreen?". Vulture. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  67. ^ McKie, Robin (December 30, 2023). "'Bloody nonsense': how Glasgow was cut from the Oscar-tipped film Poor Things". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  68. ^ Robertson, Adam (November 21, 2023). "New documentary celebrates life and legacy of Alasdair Gray". The National. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  69. ^ McLean, Pauline (January 13, 2024). "Poor Things: 'I don't mind they erased Glasgow from dad's book'". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  70. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy; Ntim, Zac (September 9, 2023). "Venice Winners: Golden Lion Goes To Yorgos Lanthimos For 'Poor Things'; Hamaguchi, Sarsgaard, Spaeny Also Score — Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  71. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Hipes, Patrick (January 23, 2024). "Oscar Nominations: The Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  72. ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (March 10, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director: Full Winners List". Variety. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  73. ^ Hipes, Patrick; Andreeva, Nellie (December 11, 2023). "Golden Globe Nominations: 'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer' Top Movie List; 'Succession' Leads Way in TV". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  74. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 7, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' & 'Poor Things' Win Top Movie Prizes At Golden Globes – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  75. ^ Hammond, Pete (December 13, 2023). "The Critics Choice Is 'Barbie' With 18 CCA Nominations; 'Oppenheimer', 'Poor Things' Follow With 13 Each". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  76. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (January 15, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' Leads Critics Choice Awards With 8 Wins, 'Barbie' Scores 6 — Full Winners List". Variety. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  77. ^ "AwardsWatch – EE BAFTA Nominations: 'Oppenheimer' and 'Poor Things' Lead, 'Saltburn,' 'Maestro,' 'All of Us Strangers' Rise While 'Barbie' Falls". AwardsWatch. January 18, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  78. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (February 18, 2024). "BAFTAs: 'Oppenheimer' Named Best Film, Leads Night with 7 wins Including Christopher Nolan Best Director, Cillian Murphy Best Actor; 'Poor Things' Emma Stone Takes Best Actress – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  79. ^ Davis, Clayton (December 7, 2023). "AFI Awards: 'Barbie' and 'Spider-Verse' Among 10 Best Films, Top TV Shows Include 'Jury Duty' and 'Last of Us'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  80. ^ Davis, Clayton (November 6, 2023). "'Killers of the Flower Moon' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review, Lily Gladstone and Paul Giamatti Nab Top Acting Honors". Variety. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]