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Post by stephen on Jul 5, 2024 23:51:00 GMT
I resent this being categorized as "minor Lanthimos," because this one is far and away my favourite of Yorgos's non-McNamara team-ups. This blackly humorous triptych is whacked out of its gourd as only a Lanthimos joint can truly be. I will say that I do feel that each of the segments of the film feel like they could (and perhaps should) have been standalone films, especially the first and third, but considering the way it lays the groundwork for the glorious punchline at the end, I'm fully delighted that Lanthimos went for it the way he did.
As far as the performances go, everyone's on their A-game but this was Jesse Plemons's show, and this is an incredible sizzle reel showing the staggering breadth of his range as an actor. He richly earned his Cannes prize here, and if there's any justice in what is presumably a thin field this year, he'd be a shoo-in for a Best Actor nod this year. Fresh off her Oscar win from their last collaboration, Emma Stone is a dauntless delight, especially in the film's third act which really gives her meat to sink her teeth into. Dafoe's great, Qualley's especially great, and I really enjoyed the rest of what I am sure are going to be a continuously burgeoning roster of repeat performers in Yorgos's troupe.
Marvelous stuff.
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jul 8, 2024 1:27:34 GMT
I’ll probably have more expansive thoughts later, but…. Yeaaahh. I’m starting to remember why I’m not high on Yorgos when he writes his own scripts.
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Post by TylerDeneuve on Jul 8, 2024 1:31:04 GMT
I’ll probably have more expansive thoughts later, but…. Yeaaahh. I’m starting to remember why I’m not high on Yorgos when he writes his own scripts.Or at all, really, for me... With the notable exceptions of The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Favourite. I'm kind of dreading this film, to be honest.  |
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Post by urbanpatrician on Jul 8, 2024 1:46:49 GMT
I’m not high on Yorgos when he writes his own scripts. I'm not high on him even when he doesnt |
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bigmilko
New Member
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Post by bigmilko on Jul 8, 2024 14:30:45 GMT
I think I can only handle 90 minutes of this maximalized Yorgos. I've liked everything I've seen from him, but it felt like getting beat up by 3 Dogtooth's back to back to back. The stories also not being as engaging as DT didn't help me out either
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Post by Ryan_MYeah on Jul 8, 2024 20:23:18 GMT
Ok. Here’s my problems with this movie, starting with my issues with Lanthimos as a writer.
I think Yorgos has a great sense of humor, and I love how he can emphasize and maximize the things he finds funny (both The Favourite and Poor Things are riotous in this regard). Here’s my issue: HE - or maybe it’s Efthimos - isn’t funny.
Maybe it plays better to a more stoic sense of morbid humor, but I generally find his writing more amusing than funny. The way that he writes his comedy, it always feels overly calculated in his approach. Like it’s from the perspective of someone trying to approximate what someone finds funny, very nuanced, and restrained to the point of emotionless. Which is weird, when his last two ventures are incredibly soulful, despite their savage sense of humor. I don’t understand how the same doesn’t translate to the films he authors.
As far as the segments go, I genuinely think the movie gets better with each passing portion, and honestly, the third segment alone should have just been its own separate movie expanded to 90 minutes. At the very least, trim the movie down from 160 minutes that overstay their welcome, highlighting some of the best, and also worst tendencies Yorgos has as a filmmaker.
What truly elevates the film is the commitment of the cast, and their dedication to the sheer ridiculous nature. Emma Stone, quickly becoming one of the boldest actresses currently working, throws herself headfirst (no pun intended) into the material, running the gamut from sinister uneasiness, desensitized obsession, and heartbroken devotion. Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe are no slouches either, with Plemons showcasing a wide ranging versatility from section to section. While I think Margaret Qualley gets underserved in the first two sections, the final stretch is where she makes the most impact, and seizes her oddball material with both hands.
Kinds of Kindness is entertaining, and dare I say made me laugh a few times, but it falls short of the best Lanthimos is capable of, and how better suited he is finding the comedy in someone else’s stories, rather than his own.
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Archie
Based
Eraserhead son or Inland Empire daughter?
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Post by Archie on Jul 10, 2024 21:35:46 GMT
Plemons and Stone are quite good and have wonderful chemistry, but ehhhhhh. Definitely minor Lanthimos. All 3 stories felt pretty half-baked to me. Also, Yorgos unfortunately goes full self-parody mode in some scenes.
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tep
Full Member
formerly known as Ban
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Post by tep on Jul 14, 2024 2:17:40 GMT
Weird ass movie. Saw it weeks ago, still don’t really know what to make of it. A lot I really liked, a lot I just thought was bizarre and didn’t click.
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VERITAS
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Post by VERITAS on Aug 1, 2024 23:44:25 GMT
As a platinum-star Lanthimos and Filippou fan since Alps and Dogtooth, this film is garbage. And that might've been the intention...
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Post by JangoB on Aug 30, 2024 9:47:10 GMT
It's great. Back to the tricks of the "old reliable" variety but with a newly administered polish to the filmmaking and the macabre joy of post-mainstream-success freedom. A film I found consistently hilarious without laughing out loud once... love that feeling. The funniest thing to me is probably the casting of some highly peculiar (and presumably non-professional) actors for bit parts throughout the film, my favorite being the police chief. Speaking of acting, Emma Stone  I continue to be in utter awe of this woman. That ridiculous monologue about the dog island performed with Oscar-caliber seriousness? Everything she does in the third segment? There's that talk about best actresses under 40 going on right now in a different thread but there's not much need for it when there's only one right answer. What a gorgeous movie too. The colors  |
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Drish
Badass
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Post by Drish on Aug 31, 2024 4:53:14 GMT
Finally a movie I was truly engrossed in after months. Really enjoyed it. Wasn't as shocking as the reviews made it out to be but still quite an engaging watch. Also, put Hong Chau in more movies please, she's such a natural.
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I continue to be in utter awe of this woman. That ridiculous monologue about the dog island performed with Oscar-caliber seriousness? Everything she does in the third segment? There's that talk about best actresses under 40 going on right now in a different thread but there's not much need for it when there's only one right answer.
