Is the surprise film Kinds of Kindness worth the long runtime? Here’s what I think.
Following Lanthimo’s filmography since Dogtooth, I thought I would love this film that people describe as him going back to his crazy, enigmatic, peculiar, whatever roots. I believe he hasn’t lost his edge, but I digress. A few nights ago, I finally got the opportunity to watch it. For some fans praising it as some “no fucks given” feature, it was boring and disappointing.
The Death of R.M.F
I would have considered this one of the best movies of 2024 so far if it had been a shorter movie with only the first story. It was compelling and intriguing, and I loved everyone in it. Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Margaret Qualley performed magnificently. It was a good thriller about a man taking advantage of the other—that kind of transactional kindness.
R.M.F. Is Flying
Unfortunately, the second story isn’t that great. Though it still has the same subject matter about exploitative ends, it’s awkward for the sake of shocking the viewer. It’s like the audience is supposed to feel the character’s awkwardness. This is not negative when done well, but it didn’t contribute to the story. While it was still good, it wasn’t as good as its predecessor.
R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich
The directionless weirdness doesn’t end in the third and final story. It gets even worse. The final part of the anthology starts with a gratuitous minute of Hunter Schafer. What follows is a convoluted narrative that feels like two different plots merged into one. It was hard to watch in a boring way. When I finally was able to stay awake, I was left confused, with nothing to say or think about, empty.
I Kindly Conclude
This is when I realized I don’t like Yorgos Lanthimos’s filmography just for the funny dances, the weird characters, the sex, and the sudden outburst of violence. I like it cause he portrays the darkest side of human behavior in an eccentric and absurd matter. Without any substance, all his uncanny dances, sex, and violence are empty.
This is why the first story was great, the second was ok, and the third was mediocre. When it loses significance, it’s an empty series of dances, coital action, and aggression. That’s not kind.
