Best Picture Power Rankings, ‘Bugonia,’ and the New Paranoid Thriller, With Yorgos Lanthimos!

Key Takeaways

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins update their Best Picture Power Rankings for 2024, placing 'Bugonia' at number nine.
Yorgos Lanthimos's new film 'Bugonia' is praised as a unique paranoid thriller, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.
'Bugonia' satirizes corporate jargon and explores contemporary themes of societal paranoia and communication breakdown.
Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons deliver sympathetic and sincere performances in 'Bugonia'.
Yorgos Lanthimos discusses his attraction to the 'Bugonia' script and his deliberate stylistic choices, including shooting on VistaVision.
Lanthimos expresses anxiety about future communication and societal division, themes reflected in the film.
The casting of non-professional, autistic actor Aiden Delbas for a key role in 'Bugonia' is highlighted.
Lanthimos advocates for the communal cinema experience, noting its value over streaming for original films.

The hosts recap their previous Best Picture Power Rankings from October 1st, including 'Wicked for Good' and 'Frankenstein'.
They discuss recent viewings like 'Marty Supreme' and 'No Other Choice,' while noting films yet to be seen, such as 'Avatar Fire and Ash'.
'House of Dynamite' is removed from the rankings, while 'Frankenstein' rises, despite host reservations.
The hosts finalize their current 'Best Picture' rankings, placing 'Bugonia' at number nine alongside 'J.J. Kelly' and 'Marty Supreme'.

The hosts question 'Bugonia's' potential as a Best Picture contender despite Yorgos Lanthimos's history and the film's unusual nature.
They consider whether 'Avatar' or 'Train Dreams' might displace 'Bugonia' from the rankings, with 'Avatar' noted for its craft.
The Academy is expected to favor Lanthimos's style and Emma Stone's performance in 'Bugonia' over 'Avatar'.
Discussions include potential Oscar nominations for Emma Stone and Jesse Buckley, analyzing strategic category placements for actors like Chase Infinity.
One host dismisses the idea of "Emma Stone fatigue" affecting her Best Actress nomination chances for 'Bugonia', despite her recent Oscar win.

The film's premise involves two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnapping a pharmaceutical CEO, believing she is an alien threatening Earth.
The screenplay by Will Tracy is noted for its similarity to the South Korean film 'Save the Green Planet'.
Hosts express strong positive reactions, praising Jesse Plemons' portrayal of a lonely man and Emma Stone's performance as a corporate CEO.
The film's grounded, recognizable setting and satirical take on corporate jargon are highlighted as both chilling and familiar.

'Bugonia' features grounded interior shots that contrast with exterior scenes filled with impending doom and paranoia, a recurring theme in Lanthimos's work.
The film is identified as a new take on paranoid thrillers, contrasting with 1970s films like 'The Conversation' and 'All the President's Men'.
Contemporary thrillers, including 'Bugonia,' often focus on societal issues and a sense of helplessness, with male protagonists feeling cast out by society and capitalism.
Emma Stone's recent filmography highlights her embrace of sharper, potentially unlikable characters and her dedication to working with Lanthimos.

The film can be enjoyed as a tense thriller even without deep analysis, playing on the ambiguity of a character's identity and questioning if she is an alien.
Yorgos Lanthimos's direction intentionally tries to mislead the audience regarding the central mystery.
Emma Stone's performance and the film's structure elicit laughter and surprise, particularly during the plot twist revealing her character to be an alien.
The hosts analyze character Teddy's lack of agency and his violent actions following the reveal.

The film's portrayal of conspiracy shifts the theme from the left to the right of the political spectrum, engaging with this concept through its characters.
'Bugonia' is noted for its recognizability and near-real-world parallels, departing from overt metaphor while depicting an alien invasion scenario.
The film achieves surprisingly effective emotional impact, comparable to the coda in 'The Big Short,' evoking feelings of powerlessness.
Filmed in Atlanta and the UK, 'Bugonia' incorporates specific local landmarks into its setting.

The hosts compare 'Bugonia' to Lanthimos's previous films like 'Poor Things' and 'The Lobster,' debating its placement in his filmography.
They praise the performances of Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, discussing criticism regarding Plemons's character portrayal and the film's lack of conventional punishment.
A question arises about Emma Stone's potential Best Actress nomination for 'Bugonia,' despite her recent Oscar win for 'Poor Things,' noting her portrayal of vulnerability.
Lanthimos is acknowledged as a master filmmaker, with 'Bugonia' evoking more sympathy and sadness than 'The Lobster,' despite its bleaker ending.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos discusses receiving the 'Bugonia' script, finding it entertaining, suspenseful, and complex (1:03:27).
He shares what excites him in a story, noting the script's novelty compared to his previous work as a significant factor in his interest (1:03:19).
Lanthimos confirms he was unfamiliar with the original film 'Save the Green Planet' until after reading the script and deciding to remake it (1:04:54).
He reflects on his filmmaking choices, noting a tendency to explore the human condition, suggesting external perspectives are more valuable for self-analysis (1:05:39).

Lanthimos explains his deliberate approach to stylistic choices, aiming for variation while relying on the material to guide decisions, highlighting the use of VistaVision for 'Bugonia' (1:07:10).
He details how imposing restrictions, such as camera limitations and lens choices, clarify the filmmaking process and foster creativity during production (1:10:02).
The director discusses the film's juxtaposition of a wide, paranoid aesthetic with realistic performances and a dramatic score, focusing on compelling scenes over dramatic reveals (1:11:01).
Lanthimos expresses concern about societal division, amplified by technology and algorithms, viewing this inability to communicate as a genuine societal fear explored in the film (1:15:41).

Lanthimos details the casting of non-professional actor Aiden Delbas for a key role, an autistic individual discovered through streetcasting with Jennifer Vendidi (1:19:31).
Both Lanthimos and lead actors Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons found the large-format VistaVision camera's sound comforting rather than distracting during filming (1:21:22).
An access coach, Elaine, was crucial in preparing Delbas for the filmmaking process, ensuring his comfort and trusting his instincts to enrich the character (1:24:00).
Lanthimos discusses the future of film distribution, highlighting the communal experience of cinema as a distinct and valuable alternative to streaming (1:25:58).