Bugonia (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos)

By: Adam Freed

For all of the unconventional brilliance embedded in the filmmaking of Yorgos Lanthimos, (The Favourite, The Lobster) the Greek director does his best work when he makes the most obvious decisions look easy.  Proof positive of the simplicity of thought behind his brilliance is Lanthimos’ continued partnership with his unquestioned muse, Emma Stone (Poor Things, La La Land).  Bugonia marks the fourth collaboration between the generational performer and her master conductor, in what is arguably Lanthimos’ most daring modern-set film to date.  

Stone plays Michelle Fuller, a powerful med-tech CEO, globally recognized for her ferocity and financial prowess.  As magazine covers and global recognition mount, Fuller finds herself in the crosshairs of Teddy, a rabidly devout conspiracy theorist, hellbent on revenge over an unfortunate family atrocity that he perceives to have come at the hands of Fuller’s Auxolith Corp.  Teddy is elevated to sweat-stained perfection by the performance of Jesse Plemons (Civil War, The Power of the Dog).  The introduction of Teddy, and his cognitively impaired cousin Don, acts as evidence of Lanthimos’ second brilliant casting decision in the production of his memorable film.  The unkept perfection of Plemons’ frayed depiction of the suffering American proletariat vibrates on screen opposite the buttoned up pretension of Emma Stone.  And thus, Bugonia takes flight in a thematic blender of ambitious messaging.

Bugonia can be read as an elevated chamber piece, operating in a menacing mono e mono between Teddy and Fuller.  Teddy is steadfast in his attempt to exact a small man’s revenge on what he perceives to be the greatest threat to the existence of the American working class. Anyone familiar with the modern works of Lanthimos knows better than to relax in anticipation of a peaceful and mutually beneficial conclusion.  As conversation-inducing as many of Lanthimos’ works have been, there is likely to be outright polarization at the dramatic conclusion of Bugonia, a film unafraid to push narrative boundaries.  The brazenness of the film’s final act, unquestionably prompted by the director’s recent run of success, is the most glaring blemish on the otherwise porcelain visage of Bugonia.

Target Score: 8/10 - Bugonia is a golden epitomization of apex performance by its twin stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.  Yorgos Lanthimos offers another thematically rich and comedically daring film that lands just 8 minutes short of mastery.

Bugonia is included in Movie Archer's coverage of the 61st Chicago International Film Festival.