When Emma Stone collaborates with director Yorgos Lanthimos, the result often captures the audience’s imagination. Kinds of Kindness, their latest venture, offers a triptych of interconnected stories featuring an ensemble cast, including Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Mamoudou Athie. This anthology film sets out to explore intricate themes through a peculiar lens but raises questions about its overall coherence and impact.
Unraveling Complex Relationships
Emma Stone in Kinds of Kindness introduces us to three separate yet thematically linked narratives. In the first story, Robert (Plemons) serves under Raymond (Dafoe), following meticulous instructions on mundane activities and his interactions with his wife (Chau). This segment establishes a bizarre dynamic imbued with moments of macabre humor.
Marital Strain and Mysteries
The second tale brings a shift as Daniel (Plemons) reunites with his wife Liz (Stone), found after a shipwreck. Their reunion is momentarily interrupted by adventurous sexual escapades with another couple (Athie and Qualley). This sequence may feel reminiscent of Poor Things
, a previous film focusing profoundly on female sexual liberation, though here it seems more tangential to the main storyline.
A subsequent exploration complicates the narrative as Daniel grows suspicious of Liz’s new behaviors post-shipwreck. The slow buildup attempts to delve into character transformations but risks overstaying its welcome.
The Quest for Resurrection
The final story veers into supernatural territory. Emily (Stone) and Andrew (Plemons) seek women who might possess the power to resurrect the dead. Amidst this serious pursuit, they navigate a controversial sex cult involving Omi (Dafoe) and Aka (Chau). Unfortunately, the subplot deviates from the core narrative, adding unnecessary complexity.
The inclusion of polymorous themes offers diverse representation but does not devoid the film of its meandering nature.
An Ensemble Cast Experiment
Kinds of Kindness marks a return to the brazenly bizarre for Lanthimos.
Instead of individual narratives for various cast members, each actor reappears in different roles across stories. While this approach provides a unique continuity, it stretches thin when there’s a lack of robust storytelling depth. For instance, Mamoudou Athie’s role in one segment as a morgue orderly exemplifies minimal involvement despite shared screentime continuity.
The Long Haul: Does Length Deter?
The film’s lengthy runtime at 165 minutes might reflect self-indulgence, testing viewers’ patience rather than their engagement. Each story’s increasing length potentially highlights weaknesses within the script, relying on length instead of narrative strength.
Potential for Success?
Coming off her Poor Things Oscar win, there’s an expectation for Emma Stone to deliver riveting performances. Whether Kinds of Kindness meets this expectation remains up for debate. The film’s novelty may draw initial curiosity but sustaining momentum could prove challenging.
Final Reflections on Kindness
Kinds of Kindness‘ exploration of peculiar kindness juxtaposes manipulative and hostile undertones. Despite its ambition, it struggles with coherent delivery across expansive stories. Will it enchant viewers all the way to box office success? Only time will tell.
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