A philosophical and erotic dark comedy based in some sort of steampunk alternate reality, definitely something different. It’s got much of the same whimsy as Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (especially the scene where Jim Carrey plays a baby version of himself), skies like impressionist paintings similar to What Dreams May Come, and an extension of the moral dilemma explored in Frankenstein.
Interesting paradoxical and existential ideas are explored, and it’s fun watching Bella’s infantile mind interpret and amazingly grasp some of these things. Comedy is dark, really dark. Funniest moment for me was when a nearly dead Godwin found a way to show up for the wedding.
Emma Stone is a tour de force. She’s had a pretty good career up to this point but really takes it to the next level here. Her physicality is charming, her marvelous curiosity is engaging, and her stunted dialogue is delivered perfectly. Like the character Oh in Home, she is smart but has an unusual and overly literal and blunt way of phrasing things. Not sure I understand the plot point of her hair growing so fast.
Dafoe has made a career of playing weird characters. He’s great as usual in this one, with incredible make-up and prosthetics. Ruffalo is wonderful as a charming but ultimately miserable and wretched character. All the American actors do a great job with the accent.
Visually, it’s quite a treat with all of the wildly distorted angles, exaggerated colors, and whimsical sets and costumes.
Interesting title. What does it mean, exactly?
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