Interview: Talking to Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone About Their Latest Brilliant Collaboration in ‘Poor Things’

It sure seems like Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone have got something special going on. What started on The Favourite has been elevated to incredible new heights with Poor Things, the best work either of them have ever done, which is really saying something. To watch them in action is to stand in awe of great talent. That it’s filtered through something as crazy and wild as this is just an added bonus. So, when given the opportunity to tell them as much, I did not miss the opportunity. The results were interesting, to say the least…

In my rave review, found here from back at the Telluride Film Festival, I had the following to say:

It shouldn’t look this easy. At this point, and with the stupendous success that is Poor Things, I think director Yorgos Lanthimos can be called a master. He’s managed to take his very specific style and worldview, which is about as singular as it gets, and create a filmmaking voice worth celebrating. His latest work, a sexually free and wildly entertaining examination of female self-discovery, is not just one of the funniest movies of the year, it’s one of the best as well. Here at the Telluride Film Festival, it’s the crowning achievement of the fest.

Poor Things is the best work to date from not only star Emma Stone but Lanthimos as well. They trust each other implicitly and it shows in the final product. Daring and wild, but also incredibly playful, their spin on the Frankenstein tale is unlike anything you’ve seen, even if the narrative won’t necessarily surprise you. In their hands, you’re safe, provided of course that you don’t get offended easily.

Below, you can see my chat with Lanthimos and Stone. Fair warning, this is a bit of an unconventional one, as we had limited time and the pair were in a silly mood. Mostly, it winds up with them being amused by my various compliments about the movie, as well as their interactions, which are very funny. You can see the chemistry they have here, which clearly has fed over into the work. It’s some of the best acting and filmmaking of the year, so I was happy to tell them so. They really appreciated it, too, as you’ll see. Hey, it’s not every day that these two tell you that you’re the best interview they’ve done!

Here now is my interview with Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos and star Emma Stone. Enjoy:

Poor Things is currently playing in theaters!