Yorgos Lanthimos, unlike Lars von Trier or Nicolas Winding Refn, has successfully transitioned to full-time filmmaking in America, receiving multiple nominations from the Academy. He has managed to become mainstream, thanks to the marketing expertise of A24 and Searchlight Pictures.
While directing "The Favourite" and "Poor Things," Lanthimos was hired as a director. However, with "Kinds of Kindness," Searchlight has allowed him to direct his own script, written with Efthimis Filippou. Despite being prestigious enough for the Cannes Film Festival's main competition, the studio has chosen to steer clear of the awards season, despite a successful campaign for "Poor Things."
"Kinds of Kindness," available on Myflixer Movies, is a provocative film that explores various controversial themes. Lanthimos has a talent for casting respected starlets, such as Emma Stone, in compromising positions, similar to what von Trier did with Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst.
The film is divided into three parts, featuring mostly the same cast with progressively shorter haircuts. Each chapter is named after a minor character with minimal dialogue.
In the first part, Jesse Plemons portrays Robert, who allows Raymond to dictate his daily activities, similar to the 2022 thriller "Resurrection." Robert fulfills Raymond's requests, and in return, Raymond rewards him with collectibles like a tennis racket smashed by John McEnroe.
Robert's relationship with Raymond comes to an end when he refuses to commit vehicular homicide on R.M.F. Without Raymond, Robert struggles to make even simple decisions, like what to order at the bar. It's unclear if this is a result of Stockholm syndrome.
In the second part, Mr. Plemons portrays Daniel, a police officer grieving over his missing wife, Liz. He invites his colleague Neil and Neil's wife, Martha, over for dinner and insists they watch a sex tape of the two couples. When Liz returns, Daniel believes she is an imposter and goes on a hunger strike, expressing a desire to consume her body.
Lastly, in part three, Ms. Stone takes on the role of Emily, a cult member separated from her husband, Joseph, and daughter. She searches for a woman who can raise the dead while sneaking back home when her family is away. Joseph discovers her actions, stalks her, drugs her, and sexually assaults her, leading to her expulsion from the cult.
The central theme of the film revolves around characters being confronted with impossible tasks and reluctantly completing them. Their manipulators, who claim to love them, subject them to cruelty and pressure them to prove their worthiness of love. Unfortunately, none of these situations end well. The film is captivating because it keeps you guessing about its direction. Only those who couldn't handle the graphic scenes left the Cannes premiere early.
Despite intentionally being off-putting at times, there are still many aspects to appreciate in this movie. Mr. Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan demonstrate their talent for creating visually stunning scenes with low-angle tracking or zoom shots. This is particularly evident in the first segment, which takes place in high-society settings. They even manage to make run-down motels, hospitals, and police headquarters in Louisiana look visually appealing.
The cast, including Hong Chau, delivers spectacular performances across the board, especially considering the multiple roles they play. While the different hairstyles and wardrobe contribute to the performances, you can't help but be amazed by the actors' ability to portray multiple characters in one project.
