Kinds of Kindness: More 50 Shades of Unkindness

KINDS OF KINDNESS is a triptych fable, following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.

REVIEW:

Kinds of Kindness is Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film, and it certainly lives up to his reputation for creating thought-provoking and unsettling cinema. This anthology film, which runs nearly three hours, is divided into three distinct segments, each exploring themes of control, co-dependency, and the extremes people go to in relationships.

The first segment, “The Death of R.M.F.,” stars Jesse Plemons as Robert, a corporate lackey under the thumb of his boss, Raymond (Willem Dafoe). The story takes a dark turn as Robert is pushed to commit increasingly disturbing acts, culminating in a moral crisis. Plemons delivers a stellar performance, capturing the desperation of a man who has never had control over his life.

The second segment follows Robert as a policeman whose wife (Emma Stone) goes missing during a diving expedition. When she is found, he begins to suspect she is not the same person2. This segment is filled with Lanthimos’ trademark deadpan humor and unsettling atmosphere.

The final segment features Plemons and Stone as members of a seaside cult led by Dafoe and Hong Chau. Their mission to find a woman who can resurrect the dead leads to a series of bizarre and darkly comic events.

While Kinds of Kindness is rich with Lanthimos’ unique style and dark humor, it can feel disjointed at times. The anthology format makes it challenging to find a cohesive narrative thread, and the nearly three-hour runtime can feel indulgent. However, the film’s audacity and the strong performances from the cast make it an intriguing watch.

Kinds of Kindness is a mixed bag. It showcases Lanthimos’ strengths in creating unsettling and thought-provoking cinema but struggles with cohesion and pacing. Fans of his previous work will likely appreciate the film’s dark humor and thematic depth, while others may find it a bit too fragmented and lengthy.