19/44
Benji Kaplan: That, folks, is what you have to think about when you’re making a movie
Plot
Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a trip across Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple’s tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. When Benji and David visit their grandmother’s house in Poland, the setting is Jesse Eisenberg; s real ancestors settled in the diaspora. Link Amanda the Jedi Show: The BEST and Weirdest Movies You (Mostly) Haven’t Seen Yet | Love Lies Bleeds (2024).
But Culkin is just annoying
(Screened in Bristol as part of the London Film Festival) I had high hopes for "Real Pain" but despite a few funny moments and emotional speeches, there are just too many areas where she misses the mark. The biggest positive is Jesse Eisenberg himself. The writer/director’s film focuses on David, a clumsy but successful New Yorker who invites his cousin Benji (Kieran Culkin) on a trip to Poland to honor his grandmother and reflect on their personal struggles. Eisenberg is believable and likable and is at the center of the best scenes.
but these British ears were sorely disappointed
It’s an energetic performance, no doubt, but his volatility and inability to understand the situation mean he’s the kind of person you’d try to get rid of within minutes of meeting him. It is hard to believe that he is becoming the star of a touring band. Will Sharpe is also very weak as the tour guide, putting on a Yorkshire accent for comic effect – perhaps not so pleasing to American ears. The role would have been much stronger if played straight.
the feeling that the scenes are improvised and acted out
The rest of the cast have small roles, but Jennifer Gray (yes, Jennifer Grey) and Kurt Ejavan bring authenticity to their characters. In addition to the changing performances, there is a general character. Situations develop or have developed without any clear reason or resolution. For a drama to succeed – and it is a drama at heart – the script and story development must be convincing, something that Real Pain lacks.
There’s an opportunity
Any built-up momentum easily slips away – half an hour in, I look at the clock and the film feels long, even though it’s less than 90 minutes long. And sometimes it looks like a Polish advertisement. tourist board – don’t get me wrong, it made me want to visit, I just didn’t think it was a feature film role."Real Pain" hints that grief has something important to say, but he can never find the right words. See the full lineup for this fall’s 62nd New York Film Festival.
