Yorgos Lanthimos is one of the best directors working today. However, his films can be an acquired taste, almost like an offbeat Quentin Tarantino. Some of his films, like The Favourite, are fairly straightforward, while others, like The Lobster, are a bit more abstract. Coming off of a feverishly positive reception to Poor Things, Lanthimos has followed with his latest film, Kinds of Kindness.
Lanthimos continues his frequent collaboration with Emma Stone in Kinds of Kindness, but it’s unlikely she’ll win an Oscar for this one. As usual, she is exceptional in her roles as Rita, Liz, and Emily, and plays well alongside Jesse Plemons, but the oddity that is Kinds of Kindness will likely leave the Academy too confused to nominate.
Kinds of Kindness tells three separate stories, with the same cast playing different roles in each. All three stories are linked, but many will be hard-pressed to find any connection beyond the obvious. We’ll leave that to YouTube videos on the matter, but what’s important is that it feels almost as though you’re watching three full-length films, despite the combined runtime of just under three hours.
In the first story, Robert (Jesse Plemons) willingly follows the direction of his boss, Raymond (Willem Dafoe) to astonishing lengths. This is followed by Daniel (Plemons again), a police officer whose life is upended when his wife (Emma Stone) is seemingly lost in an accident. The final story sees Emily (Stone again) working alongside Andrew (Plemons again), as they follow the path of a cult in search of a specific individual.
The bizarre nature of each story intrigues as much as it bewilders, but Lanthimos’ mastery of his craft makes each story intense and compelling. You yearn to know more, while each story gets more and more confusing as it plays out. Lanthimos’ ability to capture the atmosphere of a scene, and relay what each character is thinking with few or sometimes no words at all, is exceptional.
While the writing, directing, and cinematography are impressive, it’s the ensemble cast that really shines in this series of mishaps. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and Willem Dafoe steal the show, but Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Mamoudou Athie add significantly to the film, despite their limited screen time. Even without understanding what’s going on, or where the story is heading, the cast pulls you in and holds your interest.
Kinds of Kindness is a difficult movie to pin down. Technically, it’s a phenomenal film from almost every perspective. At the same time, it’s very odd and is likely to confuse more than entertain. The film will almost certainly be divisive, with some loving it, and others hating it. At the very least, it’s a movie that people should watch if only to see how they react to the peculiar nature of the stories within.
About Kinds of Kindness
Synopsis: A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife’s demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Writers: Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
Stars: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Mamoudou Athie, Joe Alwyn
Runtime: 2 Hours, 44 Minutes
Rated: R
Releases: June 21, 2024
Bryan Dawson has been writing professionally since the age of 13. He started his career as a video game writer and has since worked for Random House, Prima Games, DirecTV, IGN, AOL, the British Government, and various other organizations. For GNN, Bryan taps into his passion for movies.
