Plot: What’s it about?
Several years ago I received a disc for review – the name: The Lobster. I hadn’t heard of it, but saw that it starred Rachel Weitz, Collin Farrell and John C. Reilly. Ok, I’m a fan of all three so I was intrigued. After the credits rolled, I kind of just sat there and found it hard to blink. What an odd film! A few years later I checked out The Killing of a Sacred Deer and had equal results. I was gobsmacked. Not many films leave so much of a lasting impression after they run their course, but the films of Yorgos Lanthimos do. At least with me. So now we’ve got Bugonia in the same vein as the aforementioned titles. This pairing makes sense, of course, as Emma Stone received her second Best Actress Oscar with her role in Poor Things. Hey, if it ain’t broke…
Things aren’t going so well for Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and his cousin, Don (Aidan Delbis). Alcohol and drug addiction has ravaged their town as well as those they care about. And the recent tragedy that has impacted them personally isn’t helping. Teddy looks for a reason for all of this and finds some solace in, of course, the internet. He’s able to convince himself as well as Don that the CEO of a Big Pharma company located just down the street is an alien. Yes, really. They decide to kidnap her and force a confrontation as they believe her and her race are intent on subjugating the human race. Suffice it to say their efforts don’t go too well and the rest of the film is devoted to the slow unraveling of their “master plan.”
And that’s it. That’s all you get. To tell any more would be a disservice to the reader and this is a textbook example of “the less you know going in, the better it’ll be.” What I can (and will) say, is that Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos seem to have “found” one another. Like Scorsese and DeNiro (or DiCaprio), Spielberg and Hanks, etc. there just seems to be a connection that brings out the best on both sides of the camera. Not to be outdone, here, however is the performance of Jesse Plemons. This is some of his best work. Who’d have thought that the actor who played Todd in Breaking Bad would turn in some of the best performances out there. If you’re akin to the films of Yorgos Lanthimos, you’ll get an idea as what to expect. But I can see where this one won’t be for everyone.
Video: How’s it look?
No, that’s not a typo – the aspect ratio really is 1.50:1. In the days of HDTV’s with a 16:9 aspect ratio, we’re now making movies that would have looked right at home on a 4:3 TV from days gone by. Nostalgia aside, this looks stunning. After a bit of research, there were VistaVision cameras used which gives the film a bumped up look on the saturation scale. Detail is incredible as well, just take a look at all those bees! Granted, the 4K HEVC encode doesn’t totally take advantage of the screen real estate, it does look the part. Exterior shots are crystal clear, void of any elements, contrast is strong as well. If you can get past the windowboxed look to the film, this one is as good as they come.
Audio: How’s it sound?
What is being fully utilized is the score by Jerskin Fendrix and the accompanying Dolby Atmos track that compliments it. Oh and bees, lots of bees. Their buzzing will most likely stay with you long after the credits roll. Of course, vocals are right on the mark as well with a very natural representation that left me fulfilled. Every channel in your system will be used, and often with this one. It’s a winner.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- The Birth of the Bees: The Making of Bugonia — Join Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and the rest of the cast and crew as they reveal what it takes to bring a Yorgos Lanthimos film to life on screen in all its fascinating, wonderful glory.
The Bottom Line
This is a strange one and it’s best to go in knowing nothing at all about the film. I tried to leave any and all spoilers out of this review. If you’re a fan of the films of Yorgos Lanthimos’ films, then this one fits the mold quite nicely. With a rather unconventional visual approach it nonetheless looks great, though the lack of any true supplements might be a turnoff for some.
