A Real Pain
A Real Pain
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy and Daniel Oreskes
Director/Scriptwriter Jesse Eisenberg
Music Supervisor: Eric Eiser
Cinematography: Michal Dymel
Extreme Emotions/Searchlight Pictures
Rating: R
Running Length: 90 Minutes
Who hasn’t sometime in their lifetime, taken a trip with a relative you thought you knew from childhood and find that this person is something else, entirely. Such is the premise of Jesse Eisenberg’s latest film, “A Real Pain,” the title, of which, suits the two main characters. Eisenberg both wrote and directed the film, plus is one of the main characters, David. The other character, in the script, is his cousin, played in riotous role by Kieren Culkin (Benji), who steals the film. The backdrop of the film is a journey, both within themselves and outside as they travel and learn, travel and learn.
The film begins in America and two cousins, David and Benji, who are Jewish, meet after many years. Their late grandmother came from Poland, and they decide to go there. Wrong decision, as they argue most of the way and each realizes the other has changed so much from childhood, they are a different person entirely. David turns out to be married with children, and a quiet, thoughtful person. Benji, on the other hand is a wild child, never grown up, and wants all the attention to be focused on him. Now, whether this is a polar disorder or just plain vanity, is for the audience to figure out. The trip is spoiled by Benji’s escapades, including their tour. What to do? It is at this point that the audience can notice the quietness of it all as they visit the WWII Majdanek Concentration Camp. Other times, it is watching Culkin do his “Benji” to whoever is around to watch him. This is really a two-person film.
The film is held together, both with photography and direction. Jesse Eisenberg has turned into a first-class filmmaker and “A Real Pain” is sure to bring attention to audiences. David, as played by Eisenberg, goes just to the edge of comments, then backs away in a kind of personal reverie. Culkin, on the other hand, goes full force all the time, no matter who or what or where or when or why. His Benji (in many families, a dog’s name) is over the top and gone. Atmosphere is both humorous in guessing what will happen next, to solitary as David tries to distance himself from Benji. It really is a two-person film.
Jesse Eisenberg has been a performer since childhood and comes from a performing family. This film shows the culmination of combining a story involving two people from the same family, and yet show their differences. “A Real Pain” is sure to draw attention to the theme of growing up together, separation, and then back together. But, does that always work? What the audience can learn is how two individuals who are related, can drift apart and don’t know how to pull each other back to shore. Life is complex and this film is one study of just that. It is a road show where bits of "road" fall off and "show" becomes showing each other what is really inside themselves.
Three Tocks
Copyright 2024 Marie Asner
