Saw Poor Things, a fable-like reimagination of the story of Frankenstein. It follows Bella, a woman brought back from the dead with the mind of a child. From there, she is adopted by various men who try to make her in their image: a doctor who makes her into a biological experiment, a lothario who tries to make her into a lover, a cynic who tries to give her a cynical view. All of these men's actions are deliciously subverted and frustrated by her simple certainty and ghastly nonconformity. It's great fun to watch.
The film is extremely gaudy, venturing into George Miller-ish excesses and Wes Anderson-ian artificiality. At one point they're in a ship and Bella looks at the sky which has the northern lights, a ton of stars, a bank of storm clouds, and a sunset going on all at once. Similarly, the doctor's house is occupied by strange semi-erotic statues and half-goat/half-duck hybrids. Even outside of the doctor's house we see carriages which are both horse-drawn and also steam powered. It's very silly, but it's not really supposed to be comical. In the style of fairytales and fantasy it's fabulous but not frivolous. The story is held together by the motivations of Bella which are always childishly clear. She frankly states what she wants throughout the movie.
Watching her navigate all of these men who seek to control her is very satisfying. I particularly liked her takedown of the cynic (who, to be fair, takes it with good grace.) The film has a lot of great moments and, as Bella learns to navigate the world, becomes more hopeful over time. She has a lot going against her, but her confidence is magnetic. After all she has already died once. What more can happen to her?
