Writer/Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin and Will Sharpe
Not many actors in Hollywood are as beloved as Jesse Eisenberg. Since his rise to stardom during the 2000’s, Eisenberg has become an amazing icon. Whether it’s social networking founders, zombie hunters or magicians which face dangers, Eisenberg has portrayed many strong characters. Eisenberg’s finest strength as an actor has always been his attentions to detail. He is one of those rare actors that has always poured his heart and soul in each and every role. One of the qualities that makes him stand out as an actor is his sheer intelligence. Through his abilities to portray characters that are compelling, Eisenberg has build a strong legacy that’s lasting. Although he has made a few movies in his career so far, Eisenberg has become a beloved icon in the entertainment business. Throughout his phenomenal career, Eisenberg has made many unforgettable films that are definitely without a single doubt worth watching.
Now, Eisenberg is back on the big-screen and his abilities to make engrossing movies which entertain is evident in his film “A Real Pain”. A captivating drama, it captures bonds between a pair of cousins seeking meaning in America. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the greatest movies of the year. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Jesse Eisenberg, who embodies a Jewish man seeking to mend broken bonds with his cousin. Ultimately, what makes “A Real Pain” a classic is its message. The film delivers a meaningful message about strong bonds between cousins which will resonate with everyone. Unlike most movies about dysfunctional families, it tackles strong themes which everyone would relate to. A mesmerizing masterpiece about the bond of cousins, there are several strong reasons why “A Real Pain” is a film which is definitely worth seeing.
“A Real Pain” tells the story of two cousins that embark on a journey to Poland discovering real pain. Jesse Eisenberg embodies David Kaplan, a Jewish author with love for travelling across the world. David has always shared a powerful bond with his cousin Benji (Kieran Culkin), an exuberant drug addict. Following the death of their grandmother, David and Benji embark on a tour of Poland together. Visiting locations in the Holocaust, David and Benji discover their ancestry. As painful tensions between the two resurface, they begin to wonder if it’s possible to form a strong bond together. Faced with a dilemma, David questions whether it’s possible to mend bonds with his brother which cause trauma. Grieving the loss of their grandmother, David and Benji question whether it’s possible to recover from the death of an ancestor that they treasure.
Jesse Eisenberg is a newcomer towards tales of cousins. Before he directed “A Real Pain”, the filmmaker had never made a movie about cousins in his career before. An actor with an illustrious career, Eisenberg is well-known for his bold roles in films. It was Eisenberg’s first attempt to capture the bonds between a pair of Jewish cousins which face disasters but he succeeds tremendously. Through engrossing cinematography, Eisenberg captures a pair of cousins embarking upon a journey to discover their identity. Visually, the movie is a stunning feast for the eyes as gorgeous as Holocaust tours that David seeks to organize. Eisenberg effectively uses montages to capture bonds of Jewish cousins embarking on a trip together. For instance, montages enhance the photos scene. During this unforgettable scene, David and Benji spend precious time together visiting a Holocaust monument they grow to treasure. One appreciates montages capturing bonds of cousins which spend time together. Montages are tricky techniques to employ in movies. As David Fincher’s “The Social Network” claimed clearly, montages elevate business films about famous social network founders. Nevertheless, it works extremely well in this movie. Through spellbinding visuals, Eisenberg captures tense hardships a pair of cousins bonding with each other are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “A Real Pain” that is worth discussing is the production-design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Eisenberg effectively uses the settings of trains to capture grim tensions cousins are facing. For instance, settings of trains enhance the wrong stop sequence. During this unforgettable scene, David and Benji accidentally get off on the wrong train stop causing catastrophe. One admired the locations of trains capturing the tensions among a pair of cousins. Trains are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Kenneth Branagh’s “Murder on the Orient Express” did suggest clearly, trains elevate murder mystery movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie a heartwarming atmosphere capturing the heavy burden which cousins bear. Through phenomenal production design, Eisenberg captures the lives of Jewish cousins facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “A Real Pain” is a classic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture tensions that a pair of cousins face. Eisenberg’s strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to capture tense hardships faced by cousins through silences. Throughout the movie, Eisenberg successfully uses silence to capture hardships experienced by cousins. For instance, silence enhances the restaurant scene. During this heartfelt scene, David and Benji have an awkward encounter at a restaurant discussing their grandmother. One admires sequences of silence capturing tensions which a pair of cousins are enduring. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Florian Zeller’s “The Father” demonstrated, silence elevates movies about Dementia. That being said, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Eisenberg captures cousins facing a painful price to pay today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Jesse Eisenberg delivers one of his best career performances as David. Eisenberg achieved appreciation for portraying big social network founders in big business biopics. With “A Real Pain”, however, he took on his most emotional role. It isn’t easy to portray a Jewish man that bonds with his cousin on a trip but he pulled it off successfully. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charming and emotional in his most unforgettable role. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures anger, desperation and trauma of a man forming a strong bond with his cousin. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most beloved actors today.
Kieran Culkin is captivating as a tormented man that seeks to reconnect with his cousin whom he regards with affection. Culkin is an actor which has always had an aptitude for playing emotional characters, and “A Real Pain” showcases his strengths as an actor. Culkin effectively uses his body language to create a portrait of a cousin that’s compelling. Whether he’s enthusiastically bonding with David at the airport or mourning the loss of a grandmother that’s heartbreaking, Culkin uses his strong expressions to create a cousin that is compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most talented young actors working today.
Finally, “A Real Pain” would earn appreciation of everyone for capturing bonds between two cousins facing pain. Unlike most movies about dysfunctional families, it’s one of those rare films which tackles themes everyone would relate to. It discusses universal themes such as identity, trauma and friendships which would resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message about the bonds between siblings that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “A Real Pain” is one of those rare movies that everyone would adore.
The Film Buff 