Filmspotting Bugonia Review, Die My Love, The Mastermind, It Was Just an Accident (#1039)
Nov 14, 2025
Get ready for quirky cinema as Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone dive into the bizarre world of Bugonia, featuring a conspiracy-obsessed kidnapper. Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love showcases Jennifer Lawrence's raw, physical performance amid haunting imagery. The discussion shifts to Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind, examining themes of entitlement and self-delusion in a gripping heist narrative. Lastly, Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident stirs emotion with its moral dilemmas and powerful storytelling. Each film prompts thought-provoking critiques and entertaining insights.
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Lanthimos' Persistent Misanthropy
- Yorgos Lanthimos consistently returns to a misanthropic worldview across films rather than showing renewed faith in humanity.
- Begonia fits that pattern by putting humanity on trial with dark comedic cruelty rather than hopeful redemption.
When Concept Overtakes Story
- Adam argues Begonia feels 'point first, story second' and more shallow than earlier Lanthimos films.
- He wanted misanthropy to be funnier and more intellectually engaging, not a blunt moral punchline.
Plemons' Conviction Elevates Teddy
- Josh praises Jesse Plemons' conviction and says Teddy's conspiracy theory initially reframes misanthropy as coping with exploitation.
- The film's later choices and twist, however, undercut that sympathetic rebuttal and return to Lanthimos' bleak view.
