Culture news This fantastic film with Emma Stone causes a sensation in early 2024: critics are unanimous on Poor Creatures
2024 is off to a flying start with the highest-rated feature film of the start of the year. Here is what the press thinks of the phenomenon film “Poor Creatures”.
With 94% positive reviews on RottenTomatoes, the adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s book, Poor Creatures, is currently shaking up movie theaters. Released out of nowhere and awaited only by moviegoers, the new film by Yórgos Lánthimos is akin to a totally pernicious musical black comedy, taking up the myth of Frankenstein in its own way.
Poor Creatures, what is that about?
This is surely the surprise of the start of the year. Poor Creatures (Or Poor Things in original version) is conquering the hearts of all spectators. Directed by Yórgos Lánthimos, the film tells the strange story of Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone. To escape her violent husband, she kills herself by drowning. After being brought back to life by Doctor Godwin Baxter, she only wants one thing: to discover the world around her. So she runs away with lawyer Duncan Wedderburn to travel the world and have her first sexual experiences. With this film, Yórgos Lánthimos is not his first attempt. He had already charmed the public with The Lobster and especially La Favorite which won him numerous awards. He therefore returns to the charge with Poor Creatures, which promises to be on par with his other films. It was released at the beginning of December in the United States and has already caused a lot of buzz. In addition to winning the Golden Globes for best musical film, it allowed Emma Stone to win the crown for best actress in a comedy. Let’s see what the press thinks of this feature film which arrives this Wednesday, January 17, 2024 in our cinemas.
What does the press think?
The press is gathered around this film, even if some opinions differ. Some absolutely praise it, like New York Times Or IGN France. On the American side, the film is described as “a spooky take on the Frankenstein story, visually sumptuous and joyfully clever””. The French, more neutral as usual, proclaim that “we can’t take our eyes off Emma Stone during the 2h21 of the film. We rejoice in each situation and each repartee, despite some slow scripts.”. But the film clearly doesn’t appeal to everyone. The magazine First for example, acclaims the way in which “Yórgos Lánthimos manages to capture the picaresque rise of the work”, but on the other hand, denounces the uncomfortable tone of the film, and deplores the excessive presence of nudity and sexuality. The feature film is also not recommended for under 16s for these reasons, in addition to the presence of scenes of evisceration. Where the criticism is clear is at the level of Emma Stone’s acting: “incredible temerity”, “extraordinary performance by Emma Stone”, “an actress of the greatest evenings”. In short, if you don’t like the very special pitch of the film, Emma Stone’s performance will win you over.
Press notes
Note aggregators:
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94/100
- Metacritic: 87/100
The Press:
- Here it is: 5/5
- Cinema Teaser: 4/5
- Rolling Stones: 4/5
- Premiere: 3/5
- Cinema notebooks: 1/5