Kinds of Kindness (2024)

CinemaSerf July 2, 2024

★ 6/10

This latest effort from the quirky imagination of Yorgos Lanthimos employs the services of Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe in varying roles across three short stories that question just about every aspect of human behaviour and attitudes. The first (my favourite) sees Plemons as "Robert". He is an outwardly professional man who lives with is wife "Sarah" (Hong Chau) and works for "Raymond" (Dafoe). He has just recovered from a very slight car accident - and on meeting with his boss we discover a little more of just what that was about and of the somewhat curious nature, and dependencies, of their relationship. The second didn't engage with me so well as cop Plemons is "Daniel" struggling to deal with the loss of his wife "Liz" at sea. When she turns up somewhat unexpectedly, she appears completely different somehow and some fairly ghastly sacrifices are soon necessary before a…

Brent Marchant July 5, 2024

★ 7/10

I’m going to say up front that this is a film I’m probably going to be processing for quite some time. The latest offering from writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos – best known for films like “The Lobster” (2015), “The Favourite” (2018) and “Poor Things” (2023) – is as much a puzzle as anything else. Told in three loosely interlaced stories with mostly the same cast members playing different roles in each, the film primarily deals in explorations of control and abuse examined from various angles. The individual stories plumb an array of additional subjects, including life, death, sanity, religion, cult membership, sexuality, dreams, surreality and self-indulgence, among others, most of which are tinged with exceedingly dark, macabre, cynical, satirical humor (evident even in its title) very much in the same vein as one of the filmmaker’s other, more troubling releases,…

TheSceneSnobs July 9, 2024

★ 2/10

I have only walked out on one other film in my life. It was warranted then and warranted when I walked out on Kinds of Kindness. I enjoyed Yorgos Lanthimos's previous film, Poor Things, also starring Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe. In my opinion, that film is a shining star in his filmography. Before that, I found most of his work to be beautiful and intriguing in premise but ultimately very dull. Kinds of Kindness is not just dull but completely boring with no real intrigue. The movie is divided into three separate stories, all revolving around the initials 'R.M.F', which are used by many of the cast playing multiple characters. This narrative structure, intended to interweave various tales of absurd kindness and humanity, fails to deliver a cohesive or engaging storyline. The disjointed nature of these stories makes it difficult to form any emotional connection or investment in the cha…

r96sk July 12, 2024

★ 9/10

Quite the thing! I really enjoyed 'Kinds of Kindness'. I'm also someone who loved 'Poor Things' from these folk, so I guess me also liking this isn't any sort of surprise. It is a truly bizarre movie and I can see many disliking it, a thought supported by the fact that in a cinema with around 10 others alongside me, 3 left before the conclusion; 1 left at the end of chapter one, then a group of 2 left at the end of chapter two. I'm personally absolutely cool with absurdity if the filmmakers truly commit to it, otherwise what's the point? Yorgos Lanthimos & Co. evidently did just that and I was thoroughly entertained across the entire run time, which is impressive given it lasts for almost three hours; it flew by for me. I'm already a big fan of those onscreen so didn't need much convincing to see them act again, and I'm glad I did because all those acting here are great. Jesse P…

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots July 17, 2024

★ 7/10

“I mostly loved it, but I kinda hated it” has pretty much become my mantra with the filmography of Yorgos Lanthimos, a writer/director whom most moviegoers will either loathe or adore. There are those of us who are firm fence sitters with his tales of absurdism and cruelty (although I skew towards the yay! versus the nay!), and it’s honestly a toss-up whether or not you’ll enjoy his latest bizarro project, “Kinds of Kindness.” Written as a triptych fable that weaves together three distinct narratives, the film has layers upon layers of hefty, rich themes that are as thought-provoking as they are (at least on the surface) head-scratching. The first is a story of a man who has no choice in his life path, but is finally trying to stand up and take control of the direction his existence has been heading. The second is a totally weird tale of a policeman whose wife has gone mis…

tmdb51616167 September 2, 2024

★ 3/10

The movie "Kinds of Kindness" was a perplexing and convoluted film that left me scratching my head. Clocking in at over three hours, it has earned the reputation of being the ultimate headache-inducing movie due to its scattered narrative. Initially, the film showed promise with its stellar casting and intriguing storyline. I found myself drawn into the characters and their interactions, particularly with the protagonist's boss. However, as the plot unfolded, it spiraled deeper and deeper into confusion, leaving me feeling exhausted and questioning how much more I could bear. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this film. It won't clean your house like a vacuum, that's for sure. It's the kind of movie that makes you say, "No thanks, I'll pass." Unfortunately, that's all I can really say about it. The only standout aspect was Emma Stone's portrayal of a sexually driv…

moviepoptime November 13, 2024

Kinds of Kindness is a thought-provoking film that explores themes of affection, toxic love, and the complexities of human relationships. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film presents three interconnected stories that delve into the darker sides of kindness and cruelty. My experience with the movie was a mix of fascination and discomfort. The cinematography is striking, capturing both beauty and bleakness, which enhances the storytelling. While some moments are deeply unsettling—featuring elements like cannibalism and self-mutilation—the film's exploration of abuse and its impact is handled with a level of depth that kept me engaged. The writing is sharp, filled with dark humor that contrasts with the serious themes, making it an intriguing watch despite its almost three-hour runtime. However, I found that the film's forced weirdness sometimes detracted from its emotional cor…