The 557th film I have seen in theaters…

The first great movie I’ve seen in 2024!

In Steampunk Victorian London, Doctor Godwin Baxter has an experiment. A beautiful woman, Bella, suffering from some sort of brain trauma. He hires one of his medical students to live at his home and meticulously catalogue every stage of her recovery. It is soon revealed that there is more to Bella than we first thought. The film follows her adventure around the world as she discovers herself.

Emma Stone is a serious contender for the Academy Award this year. Her performance as Bella was fantastic. From the infantile state in which we first meet her through her development into a fully functioning woman, it was terrific. Aside from Stone, this might be a contender in several of it’s 11 nominated categories. Ruffalo was excellent in his supporting role as Bella’s paramour – Duncan. Willem Dafoe is HILARIOUS, yes hilarious, as Doctor Baxter. He performed brilliantly here. Yorgos Lanthimos brought an amazing vision to this picture. The production design was outstanding and the cinematography by Robbie Ryan was immaculate. The Oscar competition is strong this year, but I can see this walking away with a couple awards.

This is a weird movie, but its my kind of weird. I love the Feminist Frankenstein elements. A true must see movie and the first great film I’ve seen in 2024.

9/10