The star Yorgos Lanthimos called “the greatest actor of his generation”
Over the last two decades or so, Yorgos Lanthimos has proven himself to be one of the most interesting and innovative directors of his generation. He found his start in the world of Greek experimental filmmaking, forging Cannes-favoured pictures like Dogtooth before moving into English language cinema in the mid-2000s. Since then, he has recruited some huge Hollywood names to star in his weird tales of revenge and royalty.
Lanthimos’ first effort in the English language came in 2015 with The Lobster. The film focuses on a world where single people are confined to a hotel – helmed by the spectacular Olivia Colman – and must find a partner within a certain timescale. If they fail to do so, they will be turned into an animal of their choice and sent out into the wild. It showed off Lanthimos’ aptitude for emotionless yet impossibly funny dialogue and also marked his first creative collaboration with Colin Farrell.
Just a couple of years later, Lanthimos linked back up with the Irish actor for The Killing of A Sacred Deer. Working with a similarly deadpan script, Farrell excelled in the role of Steven, a surgeon who is subjected to the torment of a boy whose father died on his operating table. With a star-studded supporting cast featuring Nicole Kidman and Barry Keoghan, it was Lanthimos’ best work yet.
Farrell isn’t the only star Lanthimos has honed a close relationship with. Since starring in The Favourite back in 2018, Emma Stone has become one of his go-to castings. She fronted his surrealist story of sexuality and rebirth, Poor Things, in 2023 and starred in Kinds of Kindness earlier this year. Stone has clearly mastered his strange dialogue style, which is why Lanthimos keeps coming back to her.
The director clearly knows the importance of maintaining relationships with actors who understand his vision, something he hopes to extend to one of Stone’s Kinds of Kindness castmates, Jesse Plemons. Speaking with A-frame about his latest offering, the director shared his particular admiration for the former Breaking Bad star.
The actor has appeared in some impressive projects over the years, including features directed by filmmaking giants such as Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson and Steven Spielberg. He has also taken on some slightly more off-kilter projects, such as Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things and, most recently, Kinds of Kindness.
Lanthimos suggested that working with Plemons confirmed his suspicion that he is “one of the greatest actors of his generation.” He shared his particular admiration for his approach to acting, suggesting that he takes it “very seriously.” It’s easy to see how this comes across in his performances — he completely embodies each role, whether it’s a tiny cameo or a comedic performance.
Lanthimos also stated that Plemons “understands very much the tone of the script and the set and what we’re trying to do, and he allows himself to be lost when that is what is needed.” This is certainly an essential part of working with Lanthimos. His scripts are so specific, so strange and straightforward at the same time that it takes the right actor to understand and embody them. Without this, their genius might be lost.
Luckily, Lanthimos knows to keep hold of actors who do understand his vision. Plemons has already been cast in Bugonia, Lanthimos’ next offering, alongside Stone, which is set to arrive next year. Kinds of Kindness seems like the beginning of another fruitful partnership.
