Emma Stone accepted her second Best Actress Oscar at the 96th Oscars this past Sunday for her captivating performance in Poor Things. While this artsy, victorian-esque movie made waves this awards season, it remains shrouded in a veil of mystery for many. So much so that it raked up Google searches on Monday.
So, what exactly is Poor Things about?
Synopsis
Poor Things, Directed and written by Yargos Lathimos, is a unique retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. But, it’s more than just a new adaption, it’s been reshaped into a coming-of-age tale set in Victorian London.
IMDB
The synopsis reads as:
“Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman, Bella Baxter (Stone) runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.”
However, Stone’s character is more than just an oddball monster that we often assign to Frankenstein’s monster.
She’s more childlike, innocent and lively – which adds to the film’s uniqueness and propels the story. The film blends several genres, like historical genre and steampunk. And, making it more intriguing, it also grapples with themes of death, existence, feminism and identity through dark humour.
IMDB
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It receives critical acclaim
It seems that Stone’s performance is easy to achieve – playing a stunted, innocent, child-like character – but it’s more than that. Stone adds several layers to Bella that make Poor Things incredibly poignant and impactful. Critics have described her performance as a “tour-de-force,” suggesting a complex portrayal that transcends the fantastical elements.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Stone bagged an Oscar for her performance.
Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
But, Poor Things won a few other awards at the 96th Oscars Awards, and a few others this awards season, including Best Costume Design and Best Production Design at the Oscars. It’s also in two top 10 Films of The Year lists this year, ranking at #7 on the African-American Film Critics Association list and winning the top spot on the American Film Institute Awards list.
Josh Weston, Nadia Stacey, and Mark Coulier, winners of Makeup and Hairstyling award for ‘Poor Things,’ | Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Overall, it was nominated over 220 times and has won 90 awards throughout the entire awards season across all ceremonies and Guilds.
Poor Things comes across as odd, but with all the accolades and comments on Emma Stone’s performance, it’s well worth the watch.
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Featured Image: Created on Canva using images from Getty and IMDB
