Michael's Movie Grade: A-
Another reminder why Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone are the best director-star duo in movies today.
This movie has the delightfully strange and creative premise of two conspiracy theorists kidnapping a CEO, because they believe she is an alien bent on Earth's destruction. From this premise Lanthimos delivers one of his funniest but angriest films. Beneath all the humor and weirdness, this is a very pessimistic movie. Lanthimos and screenwriter Will Tracy (Co-writer of The Menu (2022)) are angry at humanity for what they have become in our 21st century world (socially, politically and most of all ethically). This may be one of the bleakest portraits of humanity in all American cinema. In fact, it would downright depressing if it wasn't so entertaining. Luckily for us though there is a lot to actually enjoy here. Lanthimos' typically over the top humor is all of this movie and it has rarely been funnier than it is here. The movie also works equally well as a thriller. It keeps you guessing what direction the story is going in all the way through. Even when you think you know where the story is going it makes you constantly second guessing yourself. The suspense scenes are just as excellent as the comedic ones. Each one is full of lots of excitement.
It is hard to talk about the ending of this movie in detail without giving away spoilers. What I will say is it is incredibly effective and makes you want to laugh, while at the same time making you feel very uncomfortable and ashamed for wanting to laugh. It is in short brilliant.
This movie also benefits from a fantastic and very small cast. Emma Stone is as wonderful as she has proven herself in her previous films with Lanthimos. Jesse Plemons is equally wonderful.
This may not be a film for everyone, but it is still a wonderful movie.
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