Kinds of Kindness (2024)
Written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Hong Chau, Yorgos Stefanakos and Margaret Qualley
Running time 2 hours and 44 minutes
MPAA Rating R for Strong Sexual Content, Language, Full Nudity and Strong Violent Content
Now playing in select theaters, opens nationwide June 28

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport and Editor in Chief

Kinds of Kindness is a lot to take in.

Typically after I view a picture I am champing at the bit to gab about it with my partner in crime, Benjamin over a slice of pie or sundae. Not with this one. Given the heavy subject matter and the two hour and forty-four minute runtime, I could not help but feel a sense of fatigue after viewing Yorgos Lanthismos latest cinematic venture.

Kinds of Kindness is told in three vignettes and I was consumed by each depiction. This should come as no surprise given the stacked ensemble cast. Each one of these acts has the capability and sole capacity to bewitch the viewer. Throughout the anthology, while the entire troupe is part of each story taking differnt roles, there is one character that remains constant: R. M. F. (Yorgos Stefanakos).

The film washed over me in such a way that upon exiting the theater I felt like I was incognizant of my surroundings. Before I would be able to articulate my thoughts in any sort of meaningful (or comprehensible) way, I felt the necessity to let it stew in my brain for a bit. Given that I saw the movie Wednesday and am writing this the following day, I am still trying to unscramble what I witnessed and how each of the three stories manage to fit together. I believe a central theme throughout is human dependency and the idea of individuals utilizing other individuals to achieve their own self-fulfillment. Along with this concept, there are representations of love and devotion. Each tale shows how these feelings can take on a unique meaning for each us, especially in terms of the way one chooses to exercise their affections. Below, I break down each of the short narratives and share my thoughts on each. My hope is to see more partnerships from the Yorgos, Emma and Willem (add Qualley, Plemons and Chau to this list too), especially if the result will be something as eccentric as this. However, at this point it seems that whomever Yorgos works with should prepare to buckle in for a wild ride. Undoubtedly Kinds of Kindness will get cinema goers talking… it just might take a bit before they are ready to do so.

The Death of R. M. F.

“I love you Raymond, I love you.”

Robert (Jesse Plemons) finds his entire existence and identity controlled by a man that goes by Raymond (Willem Dafoe). In many ways Raymond seemed to represent corporate culture and the expectations that are placed on individuals by these ruling entities. It also shows how people are subservient as a way to prove their loyalty to a higher authority. When Robert decides that he does not want to do what is asked of him, Raymond says goodbye. This is cause for Robert’s life to completely spiral as he no longer has the security of his predetermined and calculated life.

Out of the three stories, this one will stick with me the longest. Given that I recently quit my corporate job after sixteen years, there were moments that gave me a bit of anxiety while watching this. The idea of the extreme lengths we convince ourselves to go to in order to please those above us and the confusion that doing so will make us feel good is really some heavy duty brainwashing. Of course it should go without saying that Jesse Plemons shines as Robert but the real prize is experiencing Dafoe’s portrayal of Raymond. With that said, no cast member here is the weakest link.

It should also be stated that although the asks from the employer, such as being asked to kill someone, are absolutely outlandish, there is some sense of realism here. The question of how far someone is willing to go in order to please is, of course, different for each of us.

R. M. F. is Flying

“That woman is not my wife.”

Daniel’s (Jesse Plemons) wife, Liz (Emma Stone) has been missing for several weeks. After she is found and makes her way home, Daniel questions whether the person that has returned is his actually wife. He believes her to be a doppelganger of sorts with nefarious intentions. Due to his suspicions, Daniel goes off the deep end which leads to an altercation at work, causing him to take a leave of absence from his job as a police officer.

In many ways, there are elements of this story that remind me of one of those sci-fi chillers from the sixties (the type reminiscent of what one could have seen on Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone), particularly the way in which Daniel acts towards his wife Liz and his psychosis. This short definitely left me the most perplexed when trying to dissect it. In the end, I believe it is trying to show that sometimes the expectations we place on those we love can be quite harmful. Through flashbacks, we learn that Liz clearly went through some scary and traumatizing event, yet, her partner Daniel seems to not provide any sort of compassion or space. He selfishly seems to be hung up on things not being back to “normal”. Rather than practice patience he can’t help but ask more of his partner to the point in which is he all-consuming.

R. M. F. Eats a Sandwich

“We are leaving the morgue now…”

Emily (Emma Stone) and Andrew (Jesse Plemons) are on a mission to find a spiritual healer that they believe is in the form of a woman. I was intrigued from the get go with this tale as it opens in a morgue. It is also apparent from the start that Emily and Andrew are part of a cult, given their somewhat peculiar mannerisms and rituals. The duo gallivant around town in a Dodge Challenger (recklessly driven by Emily) searching for a sole surviving twin that has been prophesied to become their group’s messiah. They sip water only poured from their ginormous vessel and avoid ways in which they can become “contaminated”.

This story somewhat goes to a place of no return, but not in a bad way whatsoever. I really do not want to reveal too much here because I think the beauty is in how it all plays out. The pacing is great and managed to keep me engaged as I neared the two hour and forty-four minute mark. Margaret Qualley takes on a dual role and does a fantastic job with the material. While Willem Dafoe as the lascivious cult leader, Omi and Hong Chau as his deadpan partner, Aka are both quite exceptional as a pair of domineering charlatans. As for Joe Alywn, in reviewing my letterboxd I realized that I had seen him before. Well, after his slimy performance in this short as Emily’s husband, he has managed to make me never look at him the same again.

I feel I took the least away from this particular story, but that does not mean it still didn’t have my jaw dropping. Inevitably, I believe it is attempting to show how one is not only consumed by their faith in something but also rationalizes their destruction based on this belief. All in all, if one is looking for a feel good flick, this ain’t it. Kinds of Kindness will challenge minds, lead to complicated emotions, and most likely have one pining for a meaningless film to watch afterwards or a reason to eat their feelings via an ice cream cone with lots of jimmies.