“Poor Things” (2023) from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos is based upon the book of the same name and borrows the gothic morbidity and feminist undertones of Mary Shelley’s iconic Frankenstein story. 

“Poor Things” is a major Oscar contender with nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress for Emma Stone, and a Supporting Actor nomination for Mark Ruffalo. “Poor Things” holds eleven nominations, second only to “Oppenheimer” which has received thirteen nods and will be competing against “Poor Things” for Best Picture. 

Despite these nominations, the film has left audiences generally conflicted, with some responding positively while others are left confused or even disturbed by the content within the film. Critics and filmgoers alike have lauded the film as a dark and empowered journey, while the opposite mindset accuses the movie of exploitment. 

The core element of the film is the sexual liberation of Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone (of “Crazy Stupid Love” and “La La Land”). The amount of graphic nudity and sexual situations may surprise the audience given the lack of these elements featured in the trailers. Sex can be a polarizing topic and “Poor Things” inclusion of it is no exception. 

Stone as Bella is often seen nude or partially nude throughout the movie, with her breasts exposed for a significant portion of the two hour runtime. Nudity in movies is a complicated subject, especially concerning women and the use of their bodies for audience gratification. 

“Poor Things” has been criticized with this in mind and accused of exploiting Stone’s body throughout the film despite her role as a producer. 

Opposing this viewpoint is the idea that the film features a female lead who is sexually liberated and unashamed in her experiences, a character profile that is rare to see in mainstream media. Exploring a woman’s journey in this capacity and with a theatrical release, can help to break the long-standing stigma of a woman’s sexuality.

The film’s cast is composed of established actors, all putting in stellar performances as they deliver their lines with the nuances needed to work with such a compelling script. 

Stone’s character of Bella begins the film as a juvenile mind in the body of a grown woman, with a vague understanding of the world as a whole and exhibiting a lack of control of motor functions. Stone’s use of physicality, especially in the stilted way that Bella walks, communicates this point to the audience without the use of a clunky exposition drop.

It’s interesting to watch how Stone takes on the challenge of developing a character who is completely devoid of the trauma, guilt and repressiveness that Bella may have suffered from if she was not an entirely new mind. She plays Bella with an infectious joy and encourages the women around her to form their own opinions while taking charge of their own lives. 

Willem Defoe stars alongside Stone as a mad scientist and fills the role of father figure in Bella’s life. Defoe may be best known for his role as the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s 2002 “Spider-man” but his filmography features a large number of movies from smaller production companies and he gravitates towards directors that exist outside of the mainstream. 

Defoe’s role as Dr. Godwin Baxter is classic Defoe and he leans far into the absurdity of the character. Heavily inspired by Mary Shelley’s character of Victor Frankenstein, his character highlights the dubious ethics of Victorian science and the involvement of unwilling test subjects.

His distinct features are embellished by prominent facial scars, a feat achieved through six hours a day in a makeup chair,  and his unique voice lends itself to the unsettling topics of the conversations he carries out throughout the course of the film. 

Ramy Youssef, star of the self-titled Hulu series, Ramy, takes on the role of Defoe’s lab assistant and initial suitor of Bella. Known best for his comedy writing and stand-up, it’s a surprise to see Youssef in a dramatic role but he fits into the eclectic cast nicely. He’s able to subtly incorporate his background in comedy through physicality and his reactions to Defoe’s unconventional methods as Dr. Baxter. 

Youssef’s character of Max McCandles begins the narrative as a reflection of Bella’s naivety, a young college student who still maintains a rosy worldview. As Bella embarks on her journey across Europe and develops her own philosophies, Max remains stagnant in Dr. Baxter’s laboratory.

A mustachioed Mark Ruffalo rounds out the cast as Duncan Wedderburn, the character carrying the most controversy. He begins showing interest in Bella just as she is gaining her independence and chooses to pursue her while she is still deeply naive. 

The fact that he is unaware of her mental age and chooses to project his own feelings onto her childish words serves as a commentary on how men can misinterpret youth for interest. However, this plot point has disturbed some viewers nonetheless and led to accusations of the film glorifying these types of relationships. 

The name Yorgos Lanthimos may not ring a bell for most movie-goers but he is the director responsible for some of the most polarizing movies of the late 2000s and 2010s. His 2017 movie “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” left audiences unsettled due to the graphic and odd content showcased within. The conversations surrounding it helped cement Lanthimos as a major unconventional director. 

The film takes inspiration from the early Victorian era, featuring the era of scientific experimentation at the cost of live test subjects and the demonization of women’s pleasure. Set against this backdrop, the film comments on the current culture surrounding these topics and the way that popular opinion has shifted from critical to accepting or vice versa. 

The film has also garnered a few Oscar nods for the aesthetic elements of the film, including Best Production Design, Costume Design and Makeup and Hairstyling. CGI elements are used to create a steampunk, surrealist version of London that is both visually appealing and makes the movie stand out amongst its fellow releases. 

“Poor Things” makes a statement about women being taken advantage of due to their youth and vulnerability. It’s up to the individual viewer if this is properly executed, but the incredible dialogue and performances make this more than deserving of a watch and of its spot as a 2024 Oscar frontrunner.