Review: ‘KINDS OF KINDNESS’ All Kindness is not Good for You

Photo: Yevette Renee
Photo: Yevette Renee

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Writers: Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer
Run time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Genre: Absurdist,  dark comedy, anthology film
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English

Director’s Yorgos Lanthimos third movie with Emma Stone, KINDS OF KINDNESS, follows three stories that features Emma, esse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Mamoudou Athie in each of the stories.

Photo: Searchlight

The first story, "The Death of R.M.F," follows Robert (Jesse Plemons), a successful man who is determined to break free from his wealthy boss Raymond (Willem Dafoe), who controls all parts of his life. Telling him what and when to read, eat and have sex with his wife (Hong Chau) . Raymond showers him kindness and with all the material things imaginable. Emma Stone as Rita, Margaret Qualley as Vivian and Hong Chau as Sarah.

You have to ask yourself, is it worth giving up all that you are?

Photo: Searchlight
Photo: Searchlight

The second story, "R.M.F. is Flying," tells the story of  police officer, Daniel (Jesse Plemons) , who suspects that his wife Liz (Emma Stone), who was reported missing after a shipwreck and is later found on an island. She returns home and Daniel believes she is pretending to be Liz. Willem Dafoe as George, Margaret Qualley as Martha, Joe Alwyn as collectibles appraiser, Mamoudou Athie as Will and Yorgos Stefanakos as R.M.F.

Is it necessary to prove yourself to someone. What are you willing to give-up in an attempt to satisfy someone’ insecurities?

Photo: Searchlight
Photo: Searchlight

The final story, "R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich," is about Emily (Emma Stone) who is in a sex cult with Aka (Hong Chau) and Omi (Willem Dafoe), is charged with a finding a person that can resurrect the dead. All the while navigating her estrangement from her family.

Emma Stone as Emily, Jesse Plemons as Andrew, Willem Dafoe as Omi, Margaret Qualley as twins Ruth and Rebecca, Hong Chau as Aka, Joe Alwyn as Joseph, Mamoudou Athias the morgue nurse, Hunter Schafer as Anna. Yorgos Stefanakos as R.M.F. and Merah Benoit as Emily's daughter.

You go through life wanting to be valued and appreciated and at the same time not be consumed about the things giving to you but what you have to give -up accepting certain acts of kindness.

KINDS OF KINDNESS is so outside the box, bizarre, filled with a sick sense of humor that keeps you wondering, what in the heck is going to happen next and before you know it, 2 hours and 45 minutes has passed.  Definitely a film to see

Release date: Friday, June 21, 2024:
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Companies: Element Pictures, Film4, TSG Entertainment
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Writers: Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer
Executive producers: Daniel Battsek, Louise Lovegrove, Ollie Madden
Producers: Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Lowe, Kasia Malipan,
Music:  Jerskin Fendrix
Director of Photography:  Robbie Ryan
Editor: Yorgos Mavropsarid
Run time: 2 hours 45 minutes