Critical darling “Poor Things” goes into wider release today in North America, as part of Searchlight Pictures’ plan to get the film into most markets by Christmas.
The Film
Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos (“The Favorite,” “The Lobster”) and star and producer Emma Stone invite you to take part in the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life from the brink of death by the brilliant, daring scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe).
Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn about life, and is soon betrothed to Godwin’s medical student, Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef).
But hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents.
Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation in this Victorian tale of love and discovery.
Written by Academy Award® Nominee Tony McNamara (“The Favourite”), and based on the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray, the film is a comedic, subversive, and irreverant take on the Frankenstein lore, but seen through the eyes of the creature.
“Alasdair Gray’s novel is immediately something very visually striking and complex – the themes, the humor, and the complexity of its characters and language. I’ve never read anything like it before, I was very taken by it,’ says director Lanthimos. ‘Gray was a painter and he’d done illustrations with the text. It was, overall, a story about a woman’s freedom in society. The path was open to tell a story like this.’
‘It was intellectually clever, dark, surprising and humorous – that’s the most important thing for Yorgos and I,’ McNamara adds. ‘The book is packed with ideas about gender, identity, and even Scottish nationalism. You’re in this incredibly rich philosophical and political world, all while being tremendously funny.’
Now, one thing I should warn potential viewers about is that a good portion of her evolution includes sex, so there are several sexual situations and instances of nudity in the film.
But if you are open to the story, you’ll understand why the film has garnered so many nominations in its short time of release, including several Best Picture nominations from the likes of the Golden Globes, and the Critics Choice Awards.
The Trailer
The first trailer for “Poor Things” introduces you to the main players:
And this extended look features commentary by Emma Stone about her character and the film:
The Release Plan
The film was originally in limited release in North America, starting December 8, in markets like New York and Los Angeles.
Starting today, it expands to 23 markets, including Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Next Friday, December 22, “Poor Things” will go into wide release, hitting most major markets. Advance tickets are now available for most major theater chains.
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