The dynamic duo behind cinematic hits like 2018's "The Favourite," 2023's "Poor Things," and 2024's "Kinds of Kindness" — filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and actress/producer Emma Stone — have struck gold once again with their latest venture, "Bugonia." This film made its grand debut at the Venice Film Festival on August 28th and continued to captivate audiences at the Telluride Film Festival over the Labor Day weekend. I had the privilege of catching it on Saturday at the Werner Herzog Theater, and I am firmly convinced that, much like the daring "The Favourite" and "Poor Things," and unlike the slightly less impactful "Kinds of Kindness," "Bugonia" is poised to make a significant splash during awards season.
Adapted by Will Tracy, a former editor of "The Onion" who went on to contribute to "Succession" and pen the acclaimed 2022 film "The Menu," "Bugonia" is an adaptation of Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 South Korean film "Save the Green Planet!" It's an absurdist comedy that revolves around two eccentric American cousins, Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis. One cousin insists on conducting his own research, while the other blindly follows him down a rabbit hole. Together, they hatch a plan to kidnap an American corporate titan, played by Stone, whom they believe is an alien intent on destroying the Earth. As a massive manhunt ensues to locate the CEO, who is chained in the abductors' basement, a battle of wits ensues between the abductors and their captive. The abductors become increasingly menacing as the clock ticks towards a lunar eclipse, at which point they expect her to take them to her alien leader.
In a world where social isolation, information silos, and deliberate misinformation are fueling dangerous conspiratorial beliefs and real acts of violence, a story like this, with characters as bizarre as these, seems chillingly plausible. While it may evoke comparisons to "The Twilight Zone" or "Black Mirror," it also shares similarities with dark social satires such as 1975's "Dog Day Afternoon" and 1976's "Network." Stone herself, during a post-screening Q&A, drew parallels to the latter film, which, though deemed sensationalist upon its release, now seems astonishingly prescient 50 years later.
I believe that members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will likely appreciate the intent of "Bugonia" — set to be released in U.S. theaters by Focus Features on October 24th — and recognize it in various categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The current Academy has far less aversion to "genre films" than it used to, as evidenced by Oscar recognition for films like 2017's "The Shape of Water," 2019's "Parasite," 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once," and, indeed, "Poor Things."
Regardless of how it fares in other categories, I am almost certain that Stone, a four-time Oscar nominee who won Best Actress for "La La Land" and was also nominated for her role in "Poor Things," and Plemons, a Best Supporting Actor nominee for his role in "The Power of the Dog," will be nominated for lead acting awards for their extraordinary performances. These roles demanded an immense level of commitment and left a haunting impression on all who witnessed them.
