I haven't seen it, or read the book (though I have read Lanark, which I loved, though it was a long time ago), so can't comment on how it's dealt with, but part of the reason I haven't watched it is that I find it hard to get past the premise of a highly sexual adult woman with a child's brain. That's an extremely tricky line to walk, and I'm not convinced 'Hollywood film, based on a novel written by a man, with a screenplay written by a man, directed by man' is the way to do it.
(I did like "The Favourite"; I had no idea many did, actually I thought it's some understated movie-nobody-knows-about-that-I-stumbled-upon-on-Netflix. I've a poor education when it comes to cinema-even though one would think research is easy.
Sometimes I don't watch things deliberately because everybody talks about them, and then I find them 10 years after. Sometimes I just miss things for some reason. In any case-thank you for the great review)
I honestly didn’t know what to think about the film. Almost stopped watching in the beginning because I really don’t enjoy watching people vomit and spit out food. My favorite moment too was when she and the wonderful woman on the ship become friends. I resonate with all of your points here. Thank you for articulating. I think I continued watching because of Emma Stone and her costumes..
I fell asleep at one point as I found the endless fucking tedious and I felt the point had been made at least 30 minutes earlier. When I woke up, still fucking.
This was not a film about female empowerment it was just pornography dressed up as high art.
I've not seen the film, and probably won't, but I read other reviews that were as equally scathing ("a man’s manicured vision of women’s liberation"). Not every film is for everyone, and whether you love it, or hate it, presumably comes down to tastes, experience, and personal preference. A bit like a 3d magic eye picture, some people see wonderful things and others just see a geometric pattern.
Thank you for being the harridan. I've deliberately avoided this movie for many many reasons including disability coding and rampant ableism. Just the trailers raised my hackles
This piece is brilliant! Sharply observed and articulated; I love it! Thank you for putting this together so eloquently and with great humour. I absolutely agree .
You found it "an endless parade of erotic titivation, which seemed to me to be entirely about the male gaze." I feel like we saw entirely different movies. Bella reveled in her own body and her ability to orgasm. It was hilarious and wonderful. The men were simply tools in her discoveries. Hardly needed! Bella forged her way right past any rules of society, any games played by men on women, or women on men. She was simply wholly herself. I loved this movie. I also loved his first movie Dogtooth. When I saw that one, about one third of the audience walked out, so if you watch it, be forewarned.
I'm so delighted you hated it and now I don't have to watch it. I've hated all the trailers...when Stone was on Graham Norton she looked like it had made her terribly ill, and I could never bring myself to watch The Favourite either. Thank you for your public service!
You're not a harridan, just selective with your BS free passes. Your review made me think of a brilliant stack posted in Feb - ashamed that I can't remember who wrote it - that examined women's struggle for equality and how it is so threatening to men. Threatening because our collective societies have placed men in the center of everything and men in general are blind to that fact. Your review of Poor Things reminded me of that stack in the way that the story was told, "through the male gaze."
I knew I wasn’t interested in seeing this film and now I know why.
I haven't seen it, or read the book (though I have read Lanark, which I loved, though it was a long time ago), so can't comment on how it's dealt with, but part of the reason I haven't watched it is that I find it hard to get past the premise of a highly sexual adult woman with a child's brain. That's an extremely tricky line to walk, and I'm not convinced 'Hollywood film, based on a novel written by a man, with a screenplay written by a man, directed by man' is the way to do it.
Love all you said, and agree. Your writing is wonderful and captivating. Can’t wait to read more reviews!!
I'm going to watch it now
(I did like "The Favourite"; I had no idea many did, actually I thought it's some understated movie-nobody-knows-about-that-I-stumbled-upon-on-Netflix. I've a poor education when it comes to cinema-even though one would think research is easy.
Sometimes I don't watch things deliberately because everybody talks about them, and then I find them 10 years after. Sometimes I just miss things for some reason. In any case-thank you for the great review)
I honestly didn’t know what to think about the film. Almost stopped watching in the beginning because I really don’t enjoy watching people vomit and spit out food. My favorite moment too was when she and the wonderful woman on the ship become friends. I resonate with all of your points here. Thank you for articulating. I think I continued watching because of Emma Stone and her costumes..
Completely agree to all your points.
I fell asleep at one point as I found the endless fucking tedious and I felt the point had been made at least 30 minutes earlier. When I woke up, still fucking.
This was not a film about female empowerment it was just pornography dressed up as high art.
Yep
We are harridan. Or doe we need a collective noun?
I've not seen the film, and probably won't, but I read other reviews that were as equally scathing ("a man’s manicured vision of women’s liberation"). Not every film is for everyone, and whether you love it, or hate it, presumably comes down to tastes, experience, and personal preference. A bit like a 3d magic eye picture, some people see wonderful things and others just see a geometric pattern.
Thank you for being the harridan. I've deliberately avoided this movie for many many reasons including disability coding and rampant ableism. Just the trailers raised my hackles
This piece is brilliant! Sharply observed and articulated; I love it! Thank you for putting this together so eloquently and with great humour. I absolutely agree .
You found it "an endless parade of erotic titivation, which seemed to me to be entirely about the male gaze." I feel like we saw entirely different movies. Bella reveled in her own body and her ability to orgasm. It was hilarious and wonderful. The men were simply tools in her discoveries. Hardly needed! Bella forged her way right past any rules of society, any games played by men on women, or women on men. She was simply wholly herself. I loved this movie. I also loved his first movie Dogtooth. When I saw that one, about one third of the audience walked out, so if you watch it, be forewarned.
I'm so delighted you hated it and now I don't have to watch it. I've hated all the trailers...when Stone was on Graham Norton she looked like it had made her terribly ill, and I could never bring myself to watch The Favourite either. Thank you for your public service!
Yup. I couldn't even watch it til the end. Another harridan here.
You're not a harridan, just selective with your BS free passes. Your review made me think of a brilliant stack posted in Feb - ashamed that I can't remember who wrote it - that examined women's struggle for equality and how it is so threatening to men. Threatening because our collective societies have placed men in the center of everything and men in general are blind to that fact. Your review of Poor Things reminded me of that stack in the way that the story was told, "through the male gaze."
I too am a harridon