Summary
- Emma Stone’s portrayal of Bella Baxter in Poor Things has sparked discussion, with the focus on the film’s controversial sex scenes.
- Stone believes these intimate moments are crucial in authentically depicting Bella’s sexual awakening, a central theme of the movie.
- Poor Things has received positive reviews, with critics praising Stone’s energetic performance, the supporting cast, and the director’s commitment to surprising the audience.
Emma Stone‘s portrayal of Bella Baxter in Poor Things has been the subject of some discussion, particularly regarding the film’s controversial sex scenes. Stone believes these intimate moments are crucial in authentically depicting Bella’s sexual awakening, a central theme of the movie. When discussing her role prior to the Hollywood strikes (via Rappler), she expressed both excitement and anxiety about taking on this daring character. Bella doesn’t conform to the norms of her time, and Stone was thrilled by the prospect of portraying a character unburdened by shame, trauma, or a restrictive backstory.
“The male characters are trying to control Bella in their own various ways, and she doesn’t even entertain it. She is just too autonomous,” she said. “I was so excited and scared for all the right reasons. Bella doesn’t have any shame or trauma, or even a backstory. She’s not raised by a society that is putting these confines on women.”
Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimo, recently received the Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival. The film’s narrative follows Bella Baxter, who is brought back to life by Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), and her subsequent adventure with the debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo). Bella’s journey is a fantastical evolution, and she becomes steadfast in her commitment to equality and liberation. In this Frankenstein-style story, her character serves as a symbol of independence and a departure from societal norms.
RELATED: Emma Stone Reveals Why She Wanted To Be In Poor Things
Poor Things Receives Positive Reviews
Searchlight Pictures
Poor Things, an adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name, has already garnered a positive response from early reviews. Currently boasting an impressive 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a resounding 9.3/10 average rating, it’s clear that this film has struck a chord with critics. Stephanie Bunbury from Deadline has lauded the film for its vivid moments, brought to life by Stone’s energetic embodiment of Bella’s persona, the exceptional performances of the supporting cast, and the director’s commitment to surprising the audience. Director Lanthimos doesn’t shy away from experimentation, employing techniques such as using multiple lenses in a scene and exploring sex-positive themes through the characters.
“The film is full of such moments, brought to vivid life by Stone’s energetic embrace of Bella’s persona, the universally excellent supporting performances and Lanthimos’ wild determination to surprise us, whether by using four different lenses in a scene, painting the sky red or all that sex-positive talk out of the mouth of an ostensible babe. What a glorious paean to freedom it is.”
Joining this star-studded lineup are Christopher Abbot as Alfie Blessington, Jerrod Carmichael as Harry Astley, Kathryn Hunter as Swiney, Suzy Bemba as Toinette, Ramy Youssef as Max KcCandles, Margaret Qualley as Felicity, Hanna Schygulla as Martha Von Kurtzroc and Vicki Pepperdine as Mrs. Prim. Poor Things, originally slated for a September 8 premiere, will now be hitting the screens on December 8, 2023, due to the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike causing a delay in its release schedule.
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