“The Favorite” and “The Lobster” director Yorgos Lanthimos’ new Emma Stone-led film “Poor Things” has premiered at the Venice Film Festival to overwhelmingly gushing reviews.
From nearly two dozen reviews thus far, the film currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with an almost unprecedented 9.3/10 average score.
Dubbed the oddest movie to premiere at this year’s fest, the film received an eight-minute standing ovation – the longest of the fest thus far. Some reportedly left the cinema before the end due to the reportedly graphic sexuality in the feature.
Based on Scottish author Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel, the fantastical and “Frankenstein”-esque tale follows the 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, she 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. Margaret Qualley, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Kathryn Hunter and Christopher Abbott co-star.
Searchlight will release “Poor Things” exclusively in cinemas on December 8th.
