There are KINDS OF KINDNESS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital from writer/director Yargos Lanthimos and Searchlight Pictures comes an intriguing look at the life of a man when dealing with KINDS OF KINDNESS.

Robert (Jesse Plemons) is a man who lives his day-to-day life on a schedule. The man responsible for the mundaneness is Raymond (Willem Dafoe) who also controls what house they live in, car they drive and even their intimacy. When Raymond asks Robert to do the unthinkable a second time, Robert decides he has had enough of complying. Raymond them begins to bring his life to a level he can not control. That’s when he meets Rita (Emma Stone)!

Daniel (Jesse Plemons) is upset that he can not find his wife Liz (Emma Stone) who is missing at sea. When she is found, he immediately feels that there is something wrong with Liz. He watches her closely and confides in friends that there is something wrong. When a bizarre incident happens while on duty, Daniel is suspended and refuses to eat. Liz tells her father what is happening but Dad (Willem Dafoe) doesn’t care for Daniel. When she doesn’t get her dad’s support, she decides in order to save Daniel, she will do whatever he asks.

Emily (Emma Stone) is in a cult that is looking for someone who can bring back the dead, Andrew (Jesse Plemons) is her partner in the search with Omni (Willem Dafoe) as the cult leader and wife Aka (Hong Chau). Being a part of the cult, there is a test to confirm whether someone is pure enough to remain. When Emily and Andrew are out eating, a woman appears that Emily believes she saw in a dream who says Ruth is someone who should be tested.

When Emily goes home to visit her husband and child, an incident happens that causes Omni and Aka to turn her world upside down. That doesn’t stop Emily testing Ruth and it once again turns her life upside down in ways no one could possibly have seen coming.

Plemons as Robert/Daniel/Andrew manages to not only portray three very different characters in an effortless way but even the change in his appearances is very cool. I have always enjoyed Plemons performances and this film is such a fantastic opportunity to show an even wider range of his skills.

Stone as Rita/Liz/Emily portrays such strong performances in each of her characters as well. From the lovely doey-eyed Rita, to the monotone Liz and finishing with the laser focused Emily, Stone goes full steam ahead. These are unusual characters to portray for any film, let alone doing all of them in one film.

Dafoe as Raymond/George/Omni have one thing in common – they each try to control those around them. Whether directly or indirectly, Dafoe’s cast of characters don’t seem to have a care about right or wrong but instead control. Shout out to Chau as Sarah/Sharon/Aka because although her roles are small, they have a powerful impact on the story and add elements with a simplicity and disarming manner.

Other cast include Margaret Qualley as Vivian/Martha/Ruth/Rebecca, Hong Chau as Sarah/Sharon/Aka, Joe Alwyn as Appraiser/Jerry/Joseph, Mamoudou Athie as Will/Neil/Nurse, Hunter Schafer as Anna, and Yorgos Stefanakos as R.M.F.

Searchlight Pictures is responsible for such films as SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI. They have an extensive film library as well as documentaries, scripted series, and limited series. For more information, please visit www.searchlightpictures.com.

Bonus Features include a Featurette - It Takes All Kinds: The Vision of KINDS OF KINDNESS - Join cast and crew for a behind-the-scenes look at this unique triptych story written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou. See how the sets, costumes, cinematography and music amplify the film's themes, and discover — maybe — what RMF stands for, Deleted Scenes – Robert Ignores the SatNav and Liz Isn’t Recognized.

KINDS OF KINDNESS is a film full of recognizable themes if you look for them. The relationships of the three main characters are deep, disturbing, confrontational in the most mundane way but full of threat, and mind twisting gaslighting. Not bogged down by music to force feeling, each scene requires the viewers full attention and shock.

In the second piece, R.M.F. IS FLYING, when you get past the concept, is the deeper meaning of relationships and what one side will do for love and the other will do to get what they want for love. Then again, that’s what I see – but will it be what everyone else does? That is the interesting part of watching this film. It will bring about conversations in a way that only Lanthimos can accomplish.

KINDS OF KINDNESS is definetly a Lanthimos film and coming off the acclaim of POOR THINGS, also with Emma Stone. This film will come as no surprise to those who appreciate this director’s storytelling in his own unique way.

In the end – everybody is looking for something!