Writer/Director: Aaron Schimberg
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Adam Pearson and Renate Reinsve
‘A Captivating Dark Comedy’
Not many actors in Hollywood have achieved a fan following as huge as Sebastian Stan. Since his rise toward stardom in the 2000s, Stan has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s renowned political figures, grim gangsters or traumatized war soldiers, Stan has played many interesting characters. Arguably, Stan’s greatest strength as an actor has always been his bravery. He is one of those actors that has never been afraid of taking on risky roles playing characters that aren’t likeable. An actor with bold commitment to his craft, Stan has become a beloved icon in entertainment. Through his capabilities to play characters that are compelling, Stan has built a legacy that’s lasting. Although he is arguably best known for his role as the winter soldier in Marvel, Stan has claimed that he can excel in practically every genre. Throughout his lasting career, Stan has created several unforgettable movies which are definitely without any doubts worth talking about.
Now, Stan is back on the big-screen and his strength as an actor is clearly evident in his film “A Different Man”. Released in 2024, Aaron Schimberg’s movie captured lives of theatre actors with facial deformities. Packed with breathtaking production-design, spellbinding storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of 2024. At the centre of it all is a powerful performance by Sebastian Stan, who embodies a theatre actor which suffers from severe facial deformities. Ultimately, what makes “A Different Man” a masterpiece is its universal message. The film delivers a bold message about disabilities that will resonate with everyone. Unlike most films about facial deformities, it tackles universal themes which everyone would relate to. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with facial deformities in order to appreciate it. Although “A Different Man” is a captivating thriller, it isn’t a flawless film. It builds to an ambiguous conclusion without a clear resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of psychological dramas.
“A Different Man” tells the story of a facially deformed actor which seeks to change his appearance to be a different man. Sebastian Stan portrays Edward, an aspiring actor that has dreams of achieving success. Edward has always suffered from a severe facial deformity that has affected his ability to become a great actor. Edward questions whether it’s possible for him to be an actor. However, Edward’s life dramatically changes when a radical medical procedure alters his appearance forever. Given a new face as a different man, Edward gets a chance to rebuild his life together. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Edward begins to question whether it’s possible for him to be a successful actor. Facing facial deformity that causes a dilemma, Edward wonders whether he can overcome trauma.
Aaron Schimberg has always been fascinated with the lives of facially deformed characters. A renowned filmmaker, Schimberg has often made movies about disabled individuals that face odds against their favour. His previous film “Chained for Life” depicted a man with a facial deformity engaging in a romantic affair with a famous actress causing despair. With “A Different Actor”, however, Schimberg made his first psychological thriller. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the downtrodden lives of facially deformed actors but he succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, Schimberg captures a facially deformed actor embarking on a journey to discover his identity. Emulating David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man”, Schimberg expertly uses montages capturing a racially deformed actor seeking acceptance from an unforgiving society. For instance, the montages elevate the bullying scene. During this unforgettable scene, Edward is treated poorly by people in a train station that mock his disabilities. One acknowledges montages capturing the hardships that facially deformed people go through. Montages are tricky to use in movies. As Barry Levinson’s “Rain Man” had suggested, montages enhance movies about Autism. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, the filmmaker captures the hardship that factually deformed people are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “A Different Man” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is very well made. Schimberg effectively uses makeup to capture the tensions faced by a man which suffers from facial deformities. Throughout the movie, the makeup plays a viral role in showing strong transformation of a facially deformed actor that transforms into a different man. For instance, makeup elevates the transformation scene. During this memorable scene, Edward experiences a huge transformation becoming a different man without his facial deformities. One appreciates makeup which captures the hardships that a facially deformed man goes through. Moreover, the music score is superb. Umberto Smerilli’s commemorated music is integral toward the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden which facially deformed actors bear. Through strong production-design, Schimberg captures lives of facially deformed actors that experience a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “A Different Man” is a captivating movie about facial deformities that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and deftly uses symbolism to capture tensions faced by men with severe deformities. Throughout the movie, mirrors are a powerful symbol which showcase Edward’s perceptions of facial deformities. For instance, the symbolism of mirrors elevates the parties scene. During this memorable scene, Edward embarks on an escapade enjoying his new life as a different man with a handsome physical appearance. One admires symbolism which captures tensions that individuals with severe disabilities are enduring. Symbolism is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Craig Gillespie’s “I, Tonya” suggested, symbolism elevates films about ice skating champions. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through strong storytelling, Schimberg captures the hardships people with severe facial deformities are often facing.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Sebastian Stan delivers one of his best career performances as Edward. Stan first achieved appreciation for playing comic-book villains in marvellous superhero blockbusters. With “A Different Man”, however, he took on his most complex role: it isn’t simple to portray a man that suffers from severe disabilities changing his appearance but Stan succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to demonstrate emotional range he hadn’t displayed in his career before. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, grief and trauma of a man seeking to uncover his identity. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actors in the industry today.
Adam Pearson is phenomenal as a facially deformed actor that faces tension seeking success in a tense profession. Drawing from his personal experience, Pearson creates a portrait of a facially deformed person that’s authentic. Whether he’s being humiliated in public for his facial deformity or questioning whether he can achieve success in a career which is demanding, Pearson uses powerful expressions to create a character which is compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most iconic facially deformed actors today.
Finally, “A Different Man” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing the life of a facially deformed man. Unlike most movies capturing facially deformed men, it tackles themes which everyone would relate to. It discusses universal themes including identity, disability and crisis which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with facial deformities to appreciate it. Therefore, “A Different Man” is one of those rare movies that everyone would adore.
Although “A Different Man” is a mesmerizing psychological thriller, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks a satisfying ending. Schimberg’s decision to end the movie on an ambiguous note without a satisfying resolution is bold but doesn’t succeed. It’s an abrupt conclusion without any clear resolution that seems intended merely to spark social media discussions. At worst, it sugarcoats the struggles faced by facially deformed people. Therefore, “A Different Man” can’t quite honour the lives of facially deformed actors.
Nevertheless, fans of Sebastian Stan will definitely recognize “A Different Man” and so will movie-goers that seek exhilarating entertainment. A captivating classic about facial deformities, it honours an actor that has built a legacy that’s iconic.
A captivating portrait of hardships faced by facially deformed actors seeking to change their physical appearance whose lives deteriorate, it’s a riveting reminder of a legendary actor that has built a lasting legacy through his capabilities to portray characters that fascinate that has never lost his abilities to captivate by manufacturing memorable movies which audiences appreciate.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 