This was a "Tree of Life" experience for me. I had enjoyed previous T Malick films but found Tree shallow and banal. Most of the critics loved it. Again, here I found "Poor Things" to be pretentious and irritating. I didn't mind The Favourite and The Lobster by Yorgos but in this film, I am missing something. (or is it there?)
You know the story by now. I found it not engaging, despite the bizarre plot, the characters not that interesting but silly. Absurdism has a woolly definition but I think of Godot, or Death of Stalin, where the slightly ridiculous goings on, on the stage, still ooze meaning and feelings and affect the viewer. Not here. Just discomfort at the rather rote nudity and sex trolling across the screen and discomfort that talented people should be demeaned into this junk. Emma is a very attractive young lady, (I was devastated when she didn't finish up with 'Lars' in La La Land), but would Bella be always first pick at the Bordello? The surgical stuff was more disgusting than anything else. (Now- the original 'Lars/Ryan and the real girl', was sort of absurdist, and quite affecting, - getting a bit cryptic here.)
The colours and steampunk were good, generally the acting wasn't bad though I never quite got a grip on Mark's accent. All a matter of Taste and mine must be awry. Go see it, I guess you'll love it.
Review of Poor Things
