Over the past decade, Yorgos Lanthimos has evolved from a cult Greek director known for his intriguingly abrasive work into a high-profile filmmaker. However, his latest film, Kinds of Kindness, appears to be aiming squarely for the awards circuit—something often derogatively dubbed ‘Oscar bait’. This film, consisting of three disturbing stories about loneliness and despair, marks Lanthimos’s second release in six months and follows the acclaimed Poor Things that starred Emma Stone as a reanimated dead woman.
Lanthimos reunites with longtime collaborator Efthimis Filippou for this project, which features an impressive cast including Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, and Emma Stone. In one story, Plemons portrays Dafoe’s submissive character who refuses a violent demand. Another vignette shows Stone as Plemons’s wife, forced into grotesque acts at his command. The final story involves Dafoe & Hong Chau running a tear-drinking cult.
Lanthimos’s trademark for unsettling narratives is evident right from the film’s opening sequence set to Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.” The narrative embraces extremities for provocation’s sake. According to insiders,Opening to the sounds of The Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams,’ this is a film that’s allergic to convention… willing to provoke just for the sake of provoking.
Unfortunately, its reliance on shock value fails to deliver depth or any meaningful reflection on the human condition.
A disappointment despite esteemed talent
The film features some big names: Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mamoudou Athie, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Joe Alwyn. They all do some of their best work here; however, the strength of their performances isn’t enough to redeem the movie from its convoluted plot points and excessive desire to shock at any cost.
Emma Stone shines notably in her role but even she can’t entirely save the narrative mess surrounding her.The feeling on set is very collaborative…
,yet this collaboration does not justify the final incoherent product offered to viewers.
A potential mismatch in execution
Lanthimos’s tendency to experiment allows him notable success with films like The Favourite but backfires tremendously here. His larger thematic obsessions with control & human nature are present yet inconsistently explored.You can’t really chase an interpretation as an actor…
.
A fragmented thematic approach
The film tries to address themes like desperation & ethical ambiguities but falters in tying these threads cohesively.The characters go through extreme discomfort…
. Consequently,because although characters are pushed into morally complex territories,lack concrete emotional arcs that ground their experiences.
A missed opportunity?
This latest release ultimately feels more of an exercise in stylistic excess than substantial storytelling.The unique vision is overwhelmed by its aspirations for prestige rather than delivering engaging content.The one that stands out most…
. At the end,yet another entry denoting how even formidable talents may falter when ambition overrides essence.
Follow Us
