A DIFFERENT MAN
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson
Director: Aaron Schimberg
QUENTIN
A Different Man is the type of not-great oddball movie that A24 Stans will champion anyway just because it’s from A24. Granted, it has a lot on its mind, asking thought-provoking questions about beauty, vanity, and self-esteem. It also features strong performances, particularly from Adam Pearson. However, the characters, especially Sebastian Stan’s Edward, make too many questionable decisions, which ultimately results in a very frustrating viewing experience. On top of that, it’s a bit of a slog, and the ending provides no catharsis or satisfaction. I appreciate what writer-director Aaron Schimberg wants to do, but he doesn’t do it well enough to make the movie recommendable.
ADRIANO
Even with the obvious narrative issues, especially with its unclear final 5 minutes, there's something so fascinating about A Different Man. The darkly comedic surrealist thriller tone helped keep my interest piqued for the entire movie, alongside an incredible performance from Sebastian Stan. Beyond that, the movie's self-image story could've easily just stuck to a basic "it's what's on the inside that counts" message, but I was really into how it decided to go beyond that, showing what a blunted self-image can do to someone. As weird and unsure of itself as it can be at times, I admired most of A Different Man.
NICK
A Different Man is an interesting case study. It's a film that doesn't shy away from taking risks, and it features some very good performances, which usually bodes well for me. Not so much here, though. The film feels as if it is split into two parts, with neither being given the time to establish itself. Meanwhile, the tone of everything is as if it's constantly in flux. It all just feels a little disconnected, which is a shame because both Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson came to play. Too bad A Different Man doesn't do what it needs to do to provide them a worthy playground.
This film was reviewed by Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Fantasy Filmfest.