Why Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons can’t resist director Yorgos Lanthimos

·

By the time Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos were promoting Poor Things, they had already started shooting their next film, Kinds of Kindness. Lanthimos juggled shooting by day and reviewing Poor Things‘ special effects by night. Stone recalls, “We were like, ‘We have to go make this movie right now because everyone is going to think Poor Things is insane. Definitely!’”

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, once Poor Things was released, they reasoned, they might not get the money to make anything else.

Poor Things earned Stone her second Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Bella Baxter, a woman reincarnated with the brain of a baby. The film was a hit at the Venice Film Festival and earned numerous awards. Despite Lanthimos’ doubts during production, the film’s success was overwhelming. Stone remembers constantly asking Lanthimos about the film’s progress, to which he would respond, “It’s a colossal disaster.”

Following the success of Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness premiered at Cannes Film Festival. This new film features three stories about control, dominance, and willing submission, all portrayed by the same ensemble cast, including Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, and Stone. Stone expressed her approach to expectations: “I’ve had to learn to let that part go, really. There’s no way of knowing.”

Stone, who began acting to manage childhood anxiety, dropped out of high school at 14 to pursue acting in Los Angeles. She eventually landed her breakout role in Superbad (2007). Stone’s career has since included significant milestones like her Oscar-winning performance in La La Land and her collaborations with Lanthimos, starting with The Favourite in 2018.

Photo: Atsushi Nishijima/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Plemons, new to Lanthimos’ style, described the experience as challenging but ultimately liberating. In Kings of Kindness, he plays various roles, including a corporate pawn controlled by his boss (Dafoe) and a cult member on a messianic quest, all shot within seven weeks.

Lanthimos co-wrote the script with Efthymis Filippou, known for Dogtooth and The Lobster. Lanthimos was inspired by the idea of modern-day absolute control. Stone and Plemons ponder the themes of control and autonomy in Lanthimos’ work. Stone notes, “Who’s in charge? Do we want to be in charge of ourselves or do we want someone else to be? What does it mean to be loved?”

Kinds of Kindness contains frank sexual content, which Stone compared to dancing, thanks to an excellent intimacy coordinator. The actors, both married with children, navigate these scenes professionally. Despite the film’s title, Plemons admits, “It’s a pretty messed-up title, in a perfect way.” Crazy, sad, ridiculous, funny. It remains to be seen what the world will think of itself, seen through his eyes – but there just may be more Oscars around the corner.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Two Greek Australian women honoured at Global Hellenism event in Athens

Greek Australian businesswomen Eugenia Mitrakas and Eleni Stamoulis were recognised among distinguished members of the Greek diaspora.

Sydney woman suffers traumatic brain injury in ATV crash on Greek island

A dream holiday on the Greek island of Ios has turned into a nightmare for Sydney woman Michelle Bui. Read more here.

Alexander Marinis identified 14 months after body found in Queensland river

Queensland Police have identified a man found dead in the Maroochy River in November 2023 as 47-year-old Victorian man Alexander Marinis.

‘A little embarrassing’: Osaka reacts to Kyrgios watching her match at Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon this week - not on court, but courtside - sitting in the player box of Naomi Osaka.

Greece to ban adults sending children to buy tobacco

Greece is introducing strict new legislation aimed at protecting minors from tobacco and alcohol, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis announced.

You May Also Like

Mario Tsirbas spearheading legal challenge against NT vaccine mandate

Mario Tsirbas is taking a mandate, which requires most workers to be vaccinated, all the way to the Supreme Court.

Milwaukee becomes new home for Greek NBA players after Bucks draft Georgios Kalaitzakis

The Milwaukee Bucks is becoming the new home for Greek players in the NBA after selecting Greek player Georgios Kalaitzakis in the NBA draft.

Athens has the most affordable residential property among European capitals

The latest global survey by Britain’s CIA Landlord Insurance found the lowest sale prices available for residential property is in Athens.