Poor Things: “Rich” in Many Ways

The more I reflect on "Poor Things," the more I like it!  As of now, it is my third-favorite film of the year!  (First is "Godzilla Minus One," no kidding, and Second is "American Fiction", and you can click either of those titles to read my reviews of those films, too!)  "Poor Things" is adapted from the 2002 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray.  Emma Stone gives the performance of a lifetime!  In my opinion, Stone's performance is far and away the best one of 2023.  Lily Gladstone's performance in "Killers of the August Moon" is excellent, and in another year she probably would have deserved the A.A., but Emma's role is much more difficult and varied, as well as having considerably wider range.  I doubt that any other actress in Stone's generation could have done a better job.  (Politics being what it is, however, I predict that Gladstone will win the Best Actress in a Leading Role AA.) The movie is a riff on "Frankenstein," but, in many ways, it has some of the same themes as "Barbie."  This film is still more of a "chick flick," but I "get" it more than "Barbie."  (I wonder whether some women will think that this movie is even more creative and better than the unanimously acclaimed Gretta Gerwig film.)  The Director (Yorgos Lanthimos) has done a masterful job.  The movie has received many AA nominations, including Best Director, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design, and it deserves them all! Bella Baxter (Stone) lives with her creator, mentor, and father figure, Godwin Baxter (William Dafoe).  Godwin, with a markedly scarred face, appears to be both a product and student of Frankenstein.  Godwin and his student assistant, Ramy (Max McCandles), keep Bella in her Victorian London home and carefully control both Bella and her environment.  At first, Bella, although a grown woman, is acting like a two-year-old – for example, throwing temper tantrums.  (We learn why later on.)  Eventually, Bella rebels against Godwin and runs away with a womanizing cad, Duncan (well played by a very funny Mark Ruffalo). In her odyssey, Bella goes through the sequential stages of development, explores her sexuality, experiences the world, develops the capacity for intimacy and closeness, becomes autonomous, connects with her true self, and establishes her identity as a fully grown and liberated woman.  The film is MUST-SEE and is AAW.  If it is still at the theaters, I recommend seeing it ASAP, because it will be much better on the B.S., due to its wonderful cinematography and production design.  If you can't, make sure to rent it.  If you miss this movie, you will be the "poorer" for it!