12/23/23 - Poor Things (2023) - 8/10

Lushly designed and richly populated, this is gorgeous to absorb and a delight to revel in. Probably my favorite Lanthimos film yet, as there is more heart in this beguiling creature compared to his others. Plus, it is definitely the one that made me feel the least bad.

Stone is fascinating with a preponderance of acting flourish. Both in body, mind and spirit she is a whirlwind of experiential wonder and an astonishing lead of the film. She also bounces marvelously off the rakish cad in the form of Ruffalo, who is an utter delight.

The costumes are wondrous and the production design alluring and phantasmagoricly delicious. It looks wholly original and stunningly exquisite, highlighted with canted-angled fisheye lenses. It's a wild ride from Yorgos and DP Robbie Ryan’s imaginations to our eyes.

There is as much fornication as was advertised but it is distinctly unsexy, as often is the case with Lanthimos’ erotic visions. This Frankensteinian exploration into introspective actualization is a hoot and you totally should.