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daniellefarner
Reviews
Poor Things (2023)
Artistic, Deep, Impactful, Disturbing, and Raw
At first glance from the trailers of this movie, I expected a funny or happy kind of rendition of the older Frankenstein movie. Then after watching the award ceremonies and noticing the hundreds of awards this movie was given, I knew I had to give it a go. Therefore, I found myself one day sitting at home after a long day of work, with a tub of ice cream and popcorn, lying on the couch looking for a funny and happy comedy. I decided it was time to give this gem a go.
Disclaimer: This is not a feel-good, happy, comedy. Quite the opposite actually.
Let me start with this; this movie is deserving of every single award it was given. The story follows a young girl named Bella Baxter who was in a dark place in her life, committed suicide and then was brought back to life by an eccentric scientist. This brings me to my second disclaimer...
Disclaimer two: This movie contains gory scenes of surgeries, blood, human organs, etc. If you have a weak stomach, this may not be the movie for you.
Throughout the film, we observe Bella transitioning from her innocent, adolescent, child-like demeanor to an intelligent, strong, adventurous young woman. She notices social status, societal norms specifically towards women, and milestones in humans in general. It's powerful, moving, and very disturbing at times. However, this movie will leave you with a new perspective on human beings in general.
I also have to point out the artistic and creative depth throughout this film. The first section of the movie is entirely in black and white. Which I think sets the tone for not only the time period but also how the main character is trapped inside and hasn't fully experienced life yet. Once our character (Bella) spreads her wings and travels, becomes immersed in the world around her, explores her sexuality more, and slowly grows up, color appears for the rest of the film. This was so interesting to me as it made a huge difference in the audience's perspective while watching Bella grow and mature. If you do end up giving this movie a watch as I did, I would encourage you to notice the detail in the scene and props used. They are magnificent! As she grows and becomes a woman the sky seems to have more color, the ocean is bluer, and in general, everything is so much more vibrant. The location of this story is somewhat of a fantasy with aspects of our everyday world. Even the music of this film has an eerie discomfort-like pitch to it. You will even notice themes with the music as she experiences different situations. All of these little pinches of artistic ideas are brought together to complete the movie and add to the depth of the film.
It also would be unfair not to call attention to the profound acting from this set of actors and actresses. Emma Stone is as breathtaking as Bella. At times, I forgot I was watching a movie due to how entranced I was with this character. Stone does a fantastic job of creating empathy, raw emotion, and truly allowing the audience to believe she has the brain capacity of a child (in a good way).
I would completely recommend this movie not for a feel-good comedy, as I thought I was getting, but for a movie that you will be talking about for weeks. After watching Poor Things I understand why it's so critically acclaimed. It's captivating and disturbing but truly makes you question the norm and the need/greed for wealth in our society.
The Underdoggs (2024)
Exactly What You Expect
I would like to start by adding I am a huge fan of Snoop. I find him hilarious, relatable, down-to-earth, etc. However, I think we can all admit that he is not the best actor in the world. I wouldn't say it took away from the whole movie or the meaning behind the movie. If you're looking for a feel-good comedy I would still definitely recommend this one. I wouldn't recommend it for younger children as it did have some profanity and drug use. With all this said, the reason for my four stars was purely due to the skill of the acting within. As I said above the meaning behind this film is sweet and uplifting. It shines a light on minorities and underdogs in our society who need mentors and role models (such as Snoop). I you dont mind profanity from not only adults but children, looking for a feel-good comedy give this one a watch. You will be left with a wanting to help one another and a new perspective on the term underdog. :)