Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos hasn’t made the world wait long for the follow-up to his engrossing and thought-provoking “Poor Things,” a nominee earlier this year for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Going into wide release this week, not quite seven months after “Poor Things” introduced the world to Emma Stone’s unforgettable Bella Baxter, the director’s intriguing, entrancing and, at times, confounding “Kinds of Kindness” is said to have been shot quickly during the lengthy post-production phase of its visually elaborate predecessor.

‘Poor Things’ review: Emma Stone unforgettable in Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest

A “triptych fable,” “Kinds of Kindness” boasts many of the same actors — among them, not surprisingly, is Stone, who deservedly won the Oscar for Best Actress for “Poor Things” for her spectacular and fearless performance — playing different characters in its three stories.

To say this trio of tales is “loosely connected” is a bit generous, although Yorgos Stefanakos’ R.M.F. is a titular figure — but also only so relevant narratively — in each.

One would expect there to be a greater thematic thread tying together “The Death of R.M.F.,” “R.M.F. Is Flying” and “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” but, at least on initial viewing, that connective tissue is pretty thin. In each, at least one character is some degree of desperate to please at least one other character who is some degree of controlling — and, more often not, one of the latter figures is portrayed by fellow “Things” alum Willem Dafoe (“The Florida Project”). Given the gifts of Lanthimos, there surely is more metaphorical meat on the bone to be chewed upon during and after a repeat viewing.

Related Articles

‘Fancy Dance’ review: A small film that packs a big punch, thanks to Oscar-nominee Lily Gladstone

‘Horizon: Chapter 1’ review: Saddle up for a long, loping ride

‘The Exorcism’ review: Crowe stars in meta horror flick that’s only so possessing

Travel: I climbed the ‘stairway to heaven’ next to a Star Wars film set in Ireland

Movie review: ‘The Bikeriders’ a snapshot of memorable motorcycle era

Know, however, that “Kinds of Kindness” is co-written by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou, the latter a collaborator on the former’s more self-indulgent (if still radically interesting) films, including “The Lobster” (2015) and “The Killing of the Sacred Deer,” in which the pair’s absurdist leanings sometimes got the better of them. (Nowhere to be found in the credits here is writer Tony McNamara, who helped shape “Poor Thing” and Lanthimos’ other unquestionably terrific — and Oscar-nominated — film, 2018’s “The Favourite.”)

It comes as no shock, then, that “Kinds of Kindness” sometimes, perhaps even often, feels like it’s being absurd because … well, just because.

That said, it also is a film that, with every scene, has you hanging on with great interest to see what will come next. As a result, it is a two-and-a-half-hour-plus endeavor that goes by remarkably quickly. Whatever its sins, stagnation isn’t one of them.

Stone, appropriately, receives top billing, but Jesse Plemons gets at least a bit more time within the frame.

That’s mainly because while the two are co-leads in the subsequent acts, Stone is a supporting player in “The Death of R.M.F.” Plemons is front and center as Robert, who doesn’t just work for Dafoe’s Raymond but long has been engaged in a bizarre agreement with him. Raymond dictates areas of Robert’s life from his weight — the former is frustrated by the latter appearing to have lost weight, as he finds thin men to be ridiculous — to his intimacy and more with his wife, Sarah (Hong Chau, “The Menu,” “The Whale”). This power dynamic is upset when Raymond finally asks too much of Robert, with Robert subsequently seeing Stone’s Rita as a means to an end.

 

Next comes “R.M.F. Is Flying,” in which police officer Daniel (Plemons) is distraught because his beloved wife, Liz (Stone), has been lost at sea. When she is found alive and returns to him, Daniel believes something is amiss, Liz enjoying things — chocolate and cigarettes among them — she didn’t previously and, more mysteriously, not fitting comfortably into her shoes. While some around him believe Daniel to be having a psychotic event, he sets about proving his theory.

Lastly, we get “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” which sees Stone’s Emily and Plemons’ Andrew as members of a spiritual cult led by Dafoe’s Omi and Chau’s Aka. Omi and Aka, who bless the group’s all-important “uncontaminated” water with their tears, regularly dispatch Emily and Andrew on missions to search for a figure to fulfill a prophecy of a female twin who can raise the dead.

We’ve kept things vague — believe it or not, it’s all even stranger than it sounds — purposefully because, again, revelations along the way comprise much of the enjoyment “Kinds of Kindness” has to offer.

It also offers fine supporting work from Margaret Qualley (“Poor Things,” “Drive-Away Dolls”), Mamoudou Athie (“Elemental,” “The Burial”) and Joe Alwyn (“The Favourite,” “Catherine Called Birdy”) in each of the three parts.

‘Drive-Away Dolls’ review: Coen brother’s ‘Pulp’-y, sex-forward romp mostly fun

Plemons (“Power of the Dog,” “Killers of the Flower Moon”), who seems almost as if he’s in more films than he isn’t these days, is his usual dependable self and oddly likable even when the person he’s playing isn’t.

Meanwhile, Stone — also an Academy Award winner for 2017’s “La La Land” and a nominee for 2015’s “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” and “The Favourite” — is sensational again. There may be no Oscar in her future for her work here, but with the energy and personality she brings to each, her character is the most interesting thing on screen in any scene she’s in, which is saying something given some of the happenings in “Kinds of Kindness.”

Stone won’t be enough to keep some viewers from becoming turned off by “Kinds of Kindness.” It’s weird, to be sure, sometimes sexually gratuitous, often dark, occasionally violent and longer than the average movie. As such, it simply won’t fit the tastes of some folks.

Poor things.

‘Kinds of Kindness’

Where: Theaters.

When: June 28.

Rated: R for strong/disturbing violent content, strong sexual content, full nudity and language.

Runtime: 2 hours, 44 minutes.

Stars (of four): 3.

When it comes to “The Bear,” there will be blood. Heart and warmth, too. But also yelling. Lots and lots of yelling.

The sweaty, frenetic story of a humble Chicago sandwich shop slinging Italian beef before pivoting to fine dining, Season 3 of the FX series (streaming on Hulu) has reached the sink-or-swim portion of the narrative, of a restaurant start-up led by a chef whose ambitions may outweigh his reality.

The show’s slice-of-life anxieties were stress-inducing when it premiered two years ago and that continues apace. What’s changed is “The Bear’s” laser focus of its earlier seasons. I like that showrunners Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo don’t feel compelled to rush things along — this is the plodding work of a restaurant still figuring itself out in the early going — but the episodes sometimes feel like they’re spinning their wheels, or biding time until something meaningful takes shape.

Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) is at the center of it all. That’s always been the case. But more so than ever, this has become the Carmy show. After his meltdown on opening night at the end of Season 2, the new season picks up in the aftermath with a 35-minute montage of meditative scenes sliding back and forth in time featuring the moments — and the people — that made the man. It’s a risk to start the season this way. The episode demands a patience it doesn’t always earn. We know who Carmy is by now, a sad-eyed husk of a person chasing professional validation to escape the shadow of a dysfunctional upbringing. An episode-length recap of that doesn’t deepen our understanding of how we got here, or what it means for everyone else who has staked their faith in his talents.

Once the story begins in earnest in Episode 2 and his coworkers file in bright and early, Carmy’s nickname — Bear — becomes all too literal as he tears in and projects all his shame and inadequacy onto them.

His desire for excellence means he’s recreating an environment of clenched fear and consternation that he hated so much in the worst of his previous jobs. Whatever small measure of perspective he gained returning home to the family restaurant and starting over is gone. He has emotionally regressed and his tantrums are taking a toll. It’s remarkable no one has knocked his block off yet.

Jeremy Allen White as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in Season 3 of “The Bear.” (FX)

Carmy is determined to earn a Michelin star for the place, even if he alienates everyone around him in the process. Cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who upped his game running front of the house, has more practical concerns. He just wants to do a good job and cares about the customer experience. He isn’t hung up on the “gastronomical proclivities of some dusty French tire marketing executive.” And anyway, “I’m a Pirelli guy.”

Despite a more collaborative relationship that once existed between Carmy and chef de cuisine Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Carmy now has a tunnel vision that pushes her own creativity to the sidelines. There’s an offer on the table to make her a partner. But gone are the days of mentoring or quiet moments out back taking a breather. Some audiences have been hopeful their relationship would progress to something more. Restaurants are notorious for their sometimes ill-advised hookups among the staff. But Carmy can be disrespectful and dismissive toward Sydney — he’s not singling her out; that’s how he treats everyone — and the show is making it clear that if you care about Sydney, you wouldn’t want this for her in a romantic context. Anyway, there’s something compelling about friends and colleagues connecting with an intimacy and intensity that jumps off the screen but remains platonic.

That said, Sydney’s story feels underserved this season, even if Edebiri conveys so much through her character’s thoughtful, sometimes uncomfortable silences. She’s conflict-averse but she’ll have to have a meaningful talk with Carmy eventually. In the meantime, he is the taskmaster and she, along with everyone else, exists to execute his vision. Pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce) has also been pushed to the margins in favor of more Carmy. Other members of the kitchen are given brief attention: Sweeps (Corey Hendrix) is put on a sommelier path and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson) is tasked with servicing the Italian beef take-out window. But it’s a missed opportunity that the show doesn’t carve out more time to deepen their personalities and their point of view when it comes to all the changes in their workplace.

At best, Carmy communicates through a hangdog resignation or gritted teeth. At worst, he blows his top. The stakes are high: If the restaurant isn’t a moneymaker fast, Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) — who poured nearly a million dollars into the place — will pull the plug. Their fate hangs in the balance pending a review in the Chicago Tribune.

None of this plays out as comedy, even if that’s how the network has categorized the show for awards purposes. There is less humor this season than ever. Most of the comic relief is courtesy of Frick-and-Frack handyman brothers Neil and Ted Fak (played by Matty Matheson and Ricky Staffieri) and a little of their schtick goes a long way. The show struggles with that balance.

If Season 3 doesn’t reach the heights of earlier seasons, the best of it still works remarkably well, especially when it slows down and takes a breath. There’s an episode devoted to Richie’s awkward but somehow graceful acceptance of his post-divorce personal life. It’s unclear if he’s getting professional help but I’d wager yes, judging by the therapyspeak that sometimes peppers his speech: “Chef Carmen uses power phrases because he’s a baby replicant who’s not self-actualized.” Another terrific episode (which Edebiri directs) is the story of how Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) came to work at the Original Beef of Chicagoland and it’s a wonderful contrast to the present. When she first walks in, there is life in the place; it is conspicuous what has been lost in the years since. There’s nothing wrong with Carmy pushing the business in a different direction, but this flashback underscores the grief everyone now carries with them, and how deeply Carmy has done a number on them in the months since. These episodes allow you to live with the characters in their quieter moments, away from the mishegoss Carmy is perpetrating in the kitchen.

There is a brief mention of grumbling among old-timers that the neighborhood staple has forsaken its roots. I wish the show had more interest in exploring that. And there remains an unanswered question I first brought up last season: As a pair, Carmy and Sydney found real fulfillment and dignity in making affordable food better at the grimy little sandwich spot. So what’s behind this drive to achieve something notable in the fine dining space? I think for Sydney, it’s a way back in after she was burned by her earlier ambitions.

For Carmy, the answers are less clear. He left home only to lose himself in the punishing world of elite kitchens. He found a small piece of himself again amid the beef juice splattered confines of the family business. Now he’s discarded that once again in favor of a dream that may not even be satisfying if he attains it. He said as much in Season 1 when describing how it felt to win his first Michelin stars. Maybe some of this is rooted in getting the right kind of accolades needed to make the restaurant viable. But not all.

It’s a battle for Carmy’s soul as he tries to outrun his feelings. What does he want really? Where does Sydney — or anyone else — fit in with that? As the season finale promises, “to be continued.”

“The Bear” Season 3 — 3 stars (out of 4)

Where to watch: Hulu

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic

Find your local Fourth of July celebrations from festivals to parades to fireworks here:

Afton

The Fourth of July parade will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday along Main Street. After the parade in Town Square Park, there will be music, food and a bounce house.

Apple Valley

Freedom Days starts Friday, June 28, with the Dancin’ and Cruisin’ Classic Car Show at the Apple Valley American Legion 1776. A carnival will be held Monday through Thursday at various times at Johnny Cake Ridge Park East. From 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday is the Cub Foods Family Night art Johnny Cake Ridge Park East featuring a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, food trucks, a vendor fair, kids dance, carnival games and more. Some events involve a fee. On Thursday events kick off with the Fun Run at 8 a.m. outside the Apple Valley Community Center. A parade starts at 1 p.m. on the corner of Fireside Drive and Pennock Avenue going north and ending on Haynes Road next to Apple Valley High School. A pre-fireworks party with music from Woody will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at Johnny Cake East Ridge Park. The fireworks show will begin around 10 p.m. in Johnny Cake Ridge Park East. For a full schedule go to avfreedomdays.com.

Cottage Grove

Grilled food and drinks will be available starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at Kingston Park. Food trucks will also be available. Children will receive raffle tickets for bikes and other prizes. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Eagan

July 4th Funfest begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Viking Lakes followed by a bike parade at 4 p.m. Wednesday outside the Community Center. Arena will perform at 5 p.m. and Junk FM will follow at 8 p.m. in the Community Center. A carnival will be from 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and from noon to 11 p.m. Thursday. The parade will start at 10 a.m. Thursday on Yankee Doodle Road and end at Yankee Doodle Road and Federal Drive. The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Car Show will start at noon, bingo and an ice cream eating contest will start at 1 p.m., all by the Community Center. The ACME Magic Factory show will start at 2 p.m. followed by Teddy Bear Band at 3:30 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from the Community Center grounds at 10 p.m. For more information, go to eaganfunfest.org/.

Forest Lake

Cheers to 100 Years starts Wednesday with a carnival from 5 p.m. to midnight. The event will have a carnival, bingo, a DJ and karaoke at various times throughout the week. Live performances will start at 8 p.m. to midnight on the outdoor stage. Bands include 6 to Midnight, Legacy Of The Loud and Theory. There will be a parade from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday starting at Forest Lake Elementary School and ending at the American Legion. More details can be found at ci.forest-lake.mn.us/190/4th-of-July. Fireworks will be launched from Lakeside Memorial Park at 10 p.m. Thursday.

Hudson, Wis.

Booster Days starts Thursday, July 4, with a carnival in the evening at Lakefront Park. On Friday, there will be a beer garden, bingo, bands and activities. There will be a parade at 11 a.m. Saturday at 2nd Street to downtown Hudson. There will also be a beer garden, bingo, bands and activities. Sunday there will be a beer garden, bingo bands and activities. Fireworks will be launched at dusk. For more information, go to hudsonboosters.org and click on “Booster Days.”

Lakeville

Fireworks will begin at dusk Thursday launching from Century Middle School. Starting at 6 p.m., there will be face painting, bounce houses and live music from The Riverside Hitmen.

Maplewood

Food trucks, games and inflatables will be available at 4 p.m. Thursday in Hazelwood Park followed by fireworks at 10 p.m.

Marine on St. Croix

The 4th of July Run starts at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, both the two-mile and four-mile races leave from Hay Lake School. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the corner of Judd Street and Berkey Street. There will be no fireworks. For more information, go to marineonstcroix.org/fourthofjuly.

Mendota Heights

Fireworks will be set off at 10 p.m. Thursday from Mendakota Park.

Roseville

Party in the Park will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 29, with activities in Central Park. Music will start at 3:15 p.m. at the Frank Rog Amphitheatre in Central Park and fireworks will be launched at 10 p.m. from Central Park. For more information, go to cityofroseville.com/2570/Saturday-June-29.

Stillwater

This year’s fireworks display is postponed because of flooding. The city plans to host a fireworks show sometime later this summer after the floodwaters recede.

St. Croix Falls, Wis.

Food trucks, face painting, swimming and bounce houses will be available at 2 p.m. Thursday at Big Rock Creek. Live music will start at 3 p.m. with Kyle Koliha; Muddcat Melby will follow at 7 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m.

St. Paul

The St. Paul Saints will host a fireworks show at CHS Field after a 6 p.m. game Friday, July 5. There will be food trucks around the field and fans will be able to watch the fireworks from the outfield.

In St. Anthony Park, Fourth of July celebrations kick off at 8 a.m. Thursday in Langford Park with a two- or four-mile race. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Luther Place south on Como Avenue toward Langford Park. Food trucks open at noon along with horseshoes, volleyball and pickleball tournaments. Four bands — Pig’s Eye Jass, Ticket to Brasil Quartet, The Foxgloves and Light of the Moon Trio — will be performing on the bandstand from 1 to 6 p.m. Pony rides start at 1 p.m. behind the recreation center. More information at 4thinthepark.org/.

Como Town and the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 4. Como Town will be displaying the Dinosaur Expedition, an educational and interactive series where kids of all ages can learn about the prehistoric era. The event includes rides, a sand pit and “true-to-life” dinosaur displays.

White Bear Lake

The Manitou Days boat parade starts at noon Thursday, July 4, along Mahtomedi Beach. The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band concert will be from 8 to 10 p.m. at the West Park Pavilion, a flyover at 8:30 p.m. on the north side of the lake and fireworks at 10 p.m. Recommended viewing spots include County Beach and West Park. For more information, go to manitoudays.com/.

Woodbury

Country band Thrillbillies will be performing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at the M Health Fairview Sports Center. Bounce houses and food trucks will begin at 6 p.m. Food will be available for sale from 6 to 10 p.m. Due to construction on the outdoor fields, activities and music will move northwest of the previous location. Fireworks will be set off at 10 p.m. For more information, go to woodburymn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=286.

Related Articles

PK’s Place —Minnesota United’s privately operated, publicly accessible all-abilities playground — is 1st addition of United Village

It’s Somali Week in the Twin Cities. Here’s what’s happening.

Skywatch: Long days, long moon shadows, and a promising comet?

Here’s what you need to know about the MSRA’s Back to the Fifties Weekend

Movie review: June Squibb is delightful as a grandma on a mission in ‘Thelma’

By Joe Yerardi | NerdWallet

Maintaining solid credit can open doors to financial goals, but misunderstanding how credit works can make your efforts futile.

As part of the 2024 State of Consumer Credit study, a NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll asked more than 2,000 adults a series of questions focusing on common misconceptions about credit.

Two thirds (67%) of Americans believed at least one of the five credit misconceptions we asked about. Here, we’re busting them.

1. Leaving a small balance on your credit card is not better for your credit scores than paying it off completely

Roughly a third (32%) of Americans wrongly believe that leaving a small balance on their credit card is better for their credit scores than paying it off completely each month, including about half (49%) of those who carry a balance on at least one card from month to month. But it’s not true.

The best way to build your credit scores is by paying off your card balances on time and in full each month.

This is true for a couple of reasons.

First, payment history has the biggest influence on credit scores. Lenders want to see that you consistently pay back money you’ve borrowed. So you want to make sure you never miss a payment.

Second, credit utilization — the portion of available credit you use — is the next biggest factor in determining your credit scores. Aim to keep your credit utilization below 30%. By paying your credit card bill in full, you’ll prevent your credit utilization from creeping up and dragging down your credit scores.

Avoiding leaving a balance on your card will also mean you won’t be paying interest on that balance. So you’ll be doing your bank account a favor, too.

2. Checking your credit scores does not cause them to go down

About a quarter (24%) of Americans wrongly believe that checking their credit score can cause it to go down.

Checking your credit scores won’t impact them.

It’s actually a good idea to regularly check your credit scores. Knowing where your scores stand will help you understand the sorts of credit you’d likely qualify for. Regularly checking your scores can also alert you to sudden drops that may be the result of errors on your credit reports or even identity theft. Regularly checking your credit reports is a good idea too; this is known as a “soft inquiry,” and similarly won’t impact your score.

Now while checking your own credit won’t cause it to go down, some types of credit inquiries can impact your scores, which leads us to …

3. Your credit scores can go down when a lender runs a ‘credit check’

Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) of Americans wrongly believe your credit scores cannot go down when a lender runs a “credit check.”

In reality, there are many reasons your score might drop, and one of them is a lender running a “hard inquiry” on your credit to determine approval for a loan or credit card, something it can do only with your consent.

The good news is your scores are likely to drop by only a few points and the drop should last less than a year, though the inquiry does stay on your credit reports for two years.

Because these sorts of credit checks will temporarily bring your credit scores down, it’s usually a good idea to space out applications for credit cards by about six months.

The situation is a bit different if you’re shopping for loans. Scoring companies such as FICO and VantageScore will group applications for loans together if made within a short period of time, with the exact time span varying by score model. So it’s a good idea to do your rate shopping quickly if applying for a mortgage or auto loan.

4. People with bad credit can be approved for credit cards

One in five (20%) Americans wrongly believe you can’t be approved for credit cards if you have bad credit.

Related Articles

Marriage without financial planning walks on shaky legs

Prep now to find Amazon Prime Day deals in July

Gen Z is traveling more, and debt isn’t slowing them down

Don’t fall for this scam using vacant properties to target renters and homebuyers, expert warns

What impacts bank account rates mid-2024?

The truth is many lenders offer cards tailored for people with bad credit scores (generally considered a score below 630 on the 300-850 scale).

People who want to work on their credit can consider applying for one of these cards when they’re prepared to demonstrate responsible credit use, including on-time payments and paying off the balance in full each period.

These cards often come in the form of secured credit cards. Such cards require a security deposit upfront that’ll be returned to you when you close or upgrade the card.

Some retailers offer store-branded cards that are easier to qualify for than other credit cards. A downside of many of these cards is that they can be used only at that particular retailer. However, some retailers do issue store-branded cards that can be used anywhere traditional credit cards are accepted.

Some lenders offer unsecured cards to people with bad credit. These don’t require a deposit but often have high fees and interest that can end up costing you more than the security deposit on a secured card. For credit building, secured cards are generally a safer choice.

5. Using buy now, pay later isn’t likely to help your credit scores

Nearly a third (31%) of Americans wrongly believe that using buy now, pay later (BNPL) services can better your credit score.

BNPL services are a type of loan that lets you split payment for purchases into multiple equal installments. The most popular BNPL services tend to break the payment up into four installments, with a payment due every two weeks. Unlike other installment loans like mortgages or auto loans, BNPL loans with these shorter repayment periods usually don’t charge interest (though those with longer repayment periods often will). BNPL plans do charge fees for late or missed payments.

Buy now, pay later payment plans usually don’t report to credit bureaus. However, the BNPL industry is still evolving. In most cases, paying back the loans on time won’t help your credit score. Some shoppers might be better off using credit cards, which do report payment history. Be sure to pay off the card’s balance in full each month to avoid late fees and interest.

The complete survey methodology is available in the 2024 State of Consumer Credit Report, published at NerdWallet.

Joe Yerardi writes for NerdWallet. Email: jyerardi@nerdwallet.com.

The article Busting 5 Common Credit Misconceptions originally appeared on NerdWallet.