Movie Review – Kinds of Kindness

Make no mistake, this movie is not for the squeamish or meant for most audiences.  It is a surreal, dark comedy which might be best categorized in the psychological horror genre.  It runs the gamut as to what might disturb the movie-goer including murder, suicide, sexual assault, animal cruelty, cannibalism, etc.  As such, movie fans should consider themselves forewarned.

As for me, I have a decent tolerance for films of this genre, but I was somewhat disappointed with this one.  To be sure, my expectations were extremely high as I truly enjoyed “Poor Things”.  In this movie, the same director, Yorgos Lanthimos, teams up again with some of the same former cast members such as Willem Dafoe and Emma Stone.  The movie is comprised of three distinct stories which are very loosely linked together.  In any case, I sensed that the director was continually trying to push the audience to the brink, but he actually seemed to push us over it.  For example, while disturbing and graphic images can be integral in the formation of a plot, he seems to introduce these elements simply to shock us.

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Nevertheless, the inclusion of overly-disturbing elements is not my biggest criticism.  The film appears to lack a cohesive plot and sense of purpose.  I left the theater thinking, “What the ‘Sam Hill’ was that all about?” Perhaps if I “binge watched” it several times, I might be able to cobble the plot together – not sure.  In any case, I can only hazard guesses as what might be the central message being conveyed.  Or maybe the point is that there is no point and that love/life is essentially meaningless.  As Shakespeare framed it, “Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Finally, the movie is not a complete bust, primarily because of the outstanding acting performances.  Once, again, Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe do not disappoint.  Most noteworthy is probably Jesse Plemons whose performance could likely land him a Best Actor nomination in next year’s Oscars.

Grade: C+

About The Peetimes: It was challenging to find decent Peetimes for this movie which is comprised of three distinct stories that are loosely linked together. The first and second Peetimes are excellent. The third is solid. The fourth Peetime is the least optimal, but as the movie is a long one, it might be useful.

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Nprtykty, 03/28/2021

Brilliant idea with great information

I’ve been using RunPee for a few years now and it’s basically a requirement of going to the movies for me. The best part of course are the “pee times” that give you cues, synopses and times for when you can pee without missing the most important parts of the movie. There is also information about the credits- length, extras and if there are any extra scenes at the wayyy end. Super helpful to just know that it is or isn’t worth staying. There is a timer function that will buzz your phone when it’s a good time to pee. I also appreciate that the app is very conscientious about it being an app you use in a theater- dark background, all silent alarms etc. I will always enjoy the experience of the theater even if I could watch things at home- but I’ve even used it at home to check for things like after credit scenes or other information too.

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There are extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Kinds of Kindness.

Plot
A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife’s demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual g…

[category ][status draft] [tags movie review,Comedy, Drama]