2023, Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster) -- Disney
I would use that nomenclature in the title, especially after the MegaPost (kaiju post?) commenting on how we don't actually use it all that often (y'know, weird considering the name of the blog) but while I agree with everything you (you = Kent) said about the movie, wow, I did not like it. And I know you (uKent) did.
Previously, years ago, we turned The Lobster off. It was far too opaque to me. I didn't have the patience. Going back and re-reading your (urKent) posts about Lanthimos, I realize I will never like his works. I can respect them (barely) but I won't ever like them. They are like an exotic dish that looks delicious in the IG post but the combination of scents and flavours just turns me off.
I almost turned this off, numerous times, but I am glad I persevered through, so I could have a complete thought about it. It still took many sittings (both morning and WFH) to move my way through to completion.
The movie is a marvel. It looks utterly spectacular, and I can only imagine what it must have looked like on the big screen. The surreal world reminded me of those Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films, but nothing but the visuals captivated me; maybe the performances somewhat. It kind of makes me wonder if I should go back and rewatch Jeunet to see if the appeal still exists. Part of me believes I should leave them under the rose coloured view of memory.
The premise is appealing; I am always up for a rework of the Frankenstein myth. Myth? Is he mythology yet? Anywayz, Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe, Spider-Man 2) is a Mad Scientist who makes weird franken-beasts, that cutely wander around his estate, their stitches still visible. He finds a pregnant woman, victim of suicide, in the Thames. What he does is most horrific from a human standpoint, but from the mad science viewpoint, rather fascinating -- takes the brain from the stillborn child and places it inside the head of the dead woman. Thus, his daughter, Bella Baxter (Emma Stone, The Amazing Spider-Man 2) is "born".
When Bella comes "of age" she discovers her own body (*cough*) and becomes quite the sexual beast. This was the focus of much discussion of the movie, and to be fair, is much of the focus of the movie. Its unseemly. Bella is a child in mind and yet the men of the movie treat her per her adult appearance, even those that know. But surprisingly, despite the constant nudity, none of it is done for titillation. Lanthimos presents it as unseemly (be honest, he wants it to be a bit titillating) as it is -- the men are seen as leering beasts. Even later, when Bella has progressed (after weeks? months?) to ... teen years (?!) and is really exploring the whole sex thing, she turns the tables on the men (especially her suitor, Duncan Wedderburn; Mark Ruffalo, Begin Again) who would be using her.
The movie is about sex, but it is also about growth. Bella is never quite normal from this pseudo-fantasy-Victorian world's aspect, but she does learn her own mind, her own morals, a greater vocabulary and eventually.... her own origin. Its all rather fascinating to see unfold.
And yet, I can't say I enjoyed myself. I liken it to listening to Laurie Anderson music -- fascinating, complex and interesting, but I don't think I can describe as enjoyable. That is, until the closing credits, that I kept on having to remind the Disney app that I wanted to continue watching. Whoah, all those credits laid over close ups of the set dressing, the design, the decay and colour from the movie! I love those credits! So beautiful, so terrible, so evocative!
I dunno man, sounds like you liked it, but you didn't /enjoy/ it which can be two different things. Lanthamos is definitely a "That Guy" filmmaker, an artist who pushes boundaries, and a stylist who plays with the form. You seem to have picked up on so much of what he was selling and you seem to appreciate it. "That Guy" is still in there.
ReplyDeleteAs you've said many times (on blog and in person) you're in a phase where you need your movies/TV/etc to be more distractions and brain-switchy-offy, and not something that's necessarily going to provoke you or challenge you too much. Lanthamos is not for "This Guy" because he's going to provoke and challenge, muchly. I think your scattered viewing did the film a disservice, but then I also get that you probably could only handle so much of it at a given time.
The Lobster is his most impenetrable film. The Favourite is probably his most accessible. Killing of a Sacred Deer is his most uncomfortable (it's a definite Horror,Not Horror contender), although Dogtooth is pretty damn uncomfortable (but not in a Horror,Not Horror way). Poor Things, to me, is like 80's Tim Burton, but for grown ups. It's Pee Wee's Big Adventure but about sexual discovery and finding agency in a world that seeks to oppress, as opposed to, y'know finding a lost bike. A real apples-to-apples comparison there.