[Movie Review] #94 "A Different Man" - It's even tougher because it's not absurd

Score (out of 100)

75 points

Trailer

Impressions/Short Review (contains spoilers)

This was unexpectedly interesting.

I generally don't like movies produced by A24.
Most of them are preachy or have that annoying "aren't we cool?" vibe, so they often don't suit me. ("The Whale" and "The Iron Claw" are exceptions!)

Recently, while works like "The Zone of Interest" and "The Heretic" have been interesting, I've also rolled my eyes at "Beau Is Afraid," "Dream Scenario," and "MaXXXine," making A24-produced films a high-stakes gamble.

It's labeled as an absurdist drama, but my honest impression is: is it really absurd?
It's an outrageous black comedy. Edward, an aspiring actor whose face is severely deformed due to neurofibromatosis, strikes up a friendship with a beautiful woman who moves into the apartment next door. Feeling self-conscious about his face, Edward undergoes experimental facial reconstruction surgery, is reborn with the face of Sebastian Stan, and starts a new life. His neighbor, Ingrid, a playwright, chooses a story modeled after Edward for her first play. Knowing he understands the feelings involved, he hides his past self and signs up for the lead role, but then Oswald, a charismatic man who looks like his former "face," appears...

The super-extroverted nature of Adam Pearson, who played Oswald, was refreshing. To be frank, he's so social and pushy that he's almost annoying. A man who possesses the "face" that Edward once felt complexed about easily surpasses Edward, who now has a handsome new face. I said it wasn't absurd because Edward's mentality remains the same even after becoming Sebastian Stan. It's because he gives the impression that he isn't taking responsibility for his own life.

On the other hand, Oswald seems to use his appearance—which might initially put people off—to his advantage, giving off an air of someone who has spent his life making the effort to actively build relationships with others and developing the actions and mindset to avoid being servile. Since Oswald probably doesn't appear until more than halfway through the movie, it's actually thrilling to see him surpass Edward in such a short time after Edward gets his new face.

The beginning of the movie, which tells the story of Edward before his rebirth as he slowly deepens his relationship with Ingrid, was good. However, after watching the whole thing, although Ingrid seemed surprised when she first saw Edward, you realize that others—like the movers, the repairman who came to fix the room, and people passing by on the street—actually had rather muted reactions or didn't seem to care. Especially since Ingrid's words and actions, which didn't judge by appearance, should have been reassuring.

Honestly, some of the things Oswald says and does toward Edward are likely malicious. However, it feels much more like a powerful message from a man who lives life strongly. Edward's downfall, which he failed to realize, is archetypal, yet it illustrates the sad end of a man who ran away from improving his own life by himself.

It is by no means absurd.

But the fact that I, the author, don't have a face like Sebastian Stan's is definitely absurd. (Rolls eyes)