Well, it appears that Emma Stone has buzzed her hair off for the role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, a new movie that is “Justin Bieber in Doja Cat’s Hot Sauce”-level wild. This is the first look, and I don’t really know how to process it. The movie is about two conspiracy nerds who, if I am understanding this correctly, kidnap a CEO that hasn’t shaved to the promised land because they think she’s an alien hellbent on planetary destruction. And that CEO is Emma Stone, without a wig.
This couldn’t be a small detail. She’s a star of a La La Land, a Poor Things, a multiple Oscar winner, and really shaved her head. For the rest of the world, yes, that is dedication, while for her it’s probably some kind of masochism for Yorgos Lanthimos. They’ve already done three movies together: The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness. This is definitely the Lanthimos and Emma Stone cinematic brand now.
But personally, I want to focus on the plot since I think it will strike a chord with a lot of people. Someone mentioned that the movie sounds like a remake of “Save the Green Planet,” a Korean film from 2003. And if it turns out to be like that, then I quote, “the conspiracy guys are right on the money,” because she might actually be an alien. Look at the picture. She looks intense. No one with a shaved head is a soft threat, and especially not with the intensity bald Emma Stone carries.
People have already started speculating about the film. Someone has already said, “The plot twist is that she’s an alien, calling it now.” Which implies that the mystery could be solved even before the movie’s debut. It’s a typical spoiler for the brand-new suspense movie.
That isn’t the case for everyone. There are other people, to whom, “why do they insist on spoiling everything” is being replied and another person saying, “Spoiling shit man.” So, yeah, the twist of a 20-year-old movie being the surprise for a new one is pretty much dead, but again, it’s the internet, and everything comes to light really fast in this world.
Now let’s focus on the subject of actors and their transformations. “If you are not ready to shave your head, then you should not be called an actor,” said one person. While this is an extreme statement, it does make sense. Christian Bale, for example, has done a lot of insane things for movies, so it is understandable. In this case, Emma shaving her head is a change from her usual look, but it is just a job to a performer.
Opinions are much more mixed on this. Some are envisioning her holding an Oscar, one commentator said, “The Academy can start engraving her third Oscar.” The comment is an actual compliment. Other people say, “Emma Stone needs to be on the list of the great female names of all time. She is insane; crazy range as well.” So people in general are excited about the movie.
On the other hand, some people are not fond of the director at all. “I hate Yorgos Lanthimos,” one person said. Meanwhile, another person asked, “Who in Hollywood is pushing her so hard? She’s not a starlet.” Unless they are counting two-time Oscar winner, heroine, as a starlet, I don’t understand how people can say that. Then there are the weird ‘propaganda’ comments, which, I have no clue how it applies here. It’s a movie about aliens.
One of the funnier comments said it was “Voldemort in the new series,” which is a hilarious misunderstanding. No, it’s just Emma Stone fully immersing herself in the character.
The movie is a sci-fi comedy, fitting the story of two conspiracy theorists dragging away the CEO whom they believe is an alien. Depending on the director, it could be exquisitely terrifying or terrifyingly exquisite.
It is quite the thing to witness, a woman of such stature simply agreeing to this degree. Because at her level of celebrity, it is quite a thing. Maybe she has done it numerous times in the past, and as such, it is nothing new to her. Or maybe she just deeply trusts Yorgos Lanthimos to create something deserving. And judging by their earlier films, that is perhaps the more likely scenario.
Everyone already has their take and we have the first look. The film doesn’t have a release date which makes it all the funnier to have the spoiler alerts, as they prolong the anticipation. And that is what makes following the movie news so insane—expect the unexpected.
So reserve the date to tune into Bugonia. It’s underwhelming a while to go, but it certainly looks to be the year’s strangest flick. As for Emma Stone bald, we have that look permanently embedded in our minds. And the image of her as an alien is burnt in our brains—utterly, she is poised to astound the viewers.
