Review: Jesse Plemons Shines in “Kinds of Kindness”

Stop us if this sounds familiar: Emma Stone stars in another unique and bizarre film by Yorgos Lanthimos, delving into deep existential questions about what it means to be human and to love.

Jesse Plemons Biography

No, we’re not late in reviewing “Poor Things.” Just months after that film won Stone her second Oscar, Lanthimos returns with “Kinds of Kindness,” a complex triptych that may challenge those familiar only with his recent work.

Stick with it, and you’ll be rewarded with a film only Lanthimos could create, one that will make you wince, laugh, and think—often all simultaneously.

One thing’s for sure, you won’t see another movie like “Kinds of Kindness” this year.

“Kinds of Kindness” is like a book with three separate stories, but all of them have the same characters. Each story intriguingly references a character known only as RMF (Yorgos Stefanakos), whose significance is left to the audience to interpret.

In ‘The Death of RMF’, we follow Robert (Jesse Plemons), who meticulously follows the orders of his boss Raymond (Willem Dafoe). When Robert finally decides to break free from his controlling life, he discovers that freedom has its challenges.

The second story, ‘RMF is Flying’, sees Plemons as Daniel, whose wife Liz (Emma Stone) has returned after being reported missing. Daniel, suspicious that Liz is no longer the woman he married, subjects her to bizarre tests to prove her identity, despite her desire to return to normalcy.

The final and longest story, ‘RMF Eats a Sandwich’, features Stone as Emily, who, along with Andrew (Plemons), is on a mission from their cult leader (Dafoe) to find someone capable of resurrecting the dead.

The stories in Kinds of Kindness aren’t exactly overflowing with kindness, despite what the title suggests. Instead, they delve into the idea of being “cruel to be kind” as a way of life. The film explores the lengths people will go to for their loved ones, set in a world that’s a bit heightened from reality.

The second story, in particular, is full of shocking moments that are both bleak and difficult to watch. However, in true Lanthimos style, it also contains some of the film’s funniest moments, including a hilarious ‘home video’ joke, all tinged with dark humor.

While The Favourite and Poor Things might not be considered mainstream, Kinds of Kindness feels more like Lanthimos’ earlier, edgier work. His collaboration with Efthimis Filippou, who co-wrote other Lanthimos films like Alps, Dogtooth, The Lobster, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, seems to have made Lanthimos even more deadpan, savage, and defiantly strange than before.

The film may not reveal all its layers on the first or second viewing, leaving it up to the audience to piece together its meaning. For some, spending 164 minutes in Lanthimos’ world might be too bleak, especially since the final story is considered the weakest of the three, though still good.

Conclusion

Jesse Plemons has undoubtedly carved a niche for himself in Hollywood with his exceptional talent and diverse roles. From his humble beginnings to his current status as a leading actor, Plemons continues to captivate audiences with his performances. As he navigates through different genres and characters, his impact on the industry only seems to grow stronger.

FAQ