REVIEW #430 A Real Pain (2024)

A Real Pain

Synopsis

A pair of mismatched cousins travel to Poland to honour their Grandmother but complications arise when old tensions resurface about their family history.

The Review

Jesse Eisenberg has crafted a beautifully shot and well written film that utilises the wonderful dynamic between himself and the talented Kieran Culkin. The film keeps the central storyline simple but leans on the wonderful performances to captivate audiences. It’s no surprise that Culkin is receiving awards for his portrayal of Benji, a troubled character but one that audiences love, yet struggle to understand. It puts us front and centre, alongside the companion characters, as we slowly see each layer of Benji unravel on screen. Our reactions to him are reflected through those other characters, I laughed with him, pity’d him, grew frustrated at his outbursts, but come the end of the film, you’re left wanting to give him a hug to say everything’s gonna be okay and that makes the harrowing closing sequence all the more impactful, installing you with an overwhelming sense of concern, despite not actually seeing any signs of danger. A masterstroke from Eisenberg, heartfelt, character driven, with captivating cinematography at times, which contradicted its small $3m budget.

My Rating: 9 out of 10

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