A Real Pain

"Kieran and Jesse are extraordinarily interesting actors to watch on-screen. I loved how real, flawed, and human this felt."

"4.25⭐️ Shockingly good indie style film which I really had no plans of watching. Jesse Eisenberg playing Jesse Eisenberg in his every role got old for me a long time ago, but since Kieran Culkin quite phenomenally steals the show from everyone I didn’t mind. But really Jesse’s good here too, along with the rest of the cast who all have a natural easy chemistry that manages to weave warmth and even a sense of comfort subtly through the arcing emotional tumult. As director and screenwriter though, he truly shines, competently imbuing authentic and meaningful honesty that hits some profound and poignant notes balanced by a slight chaotic edge. This is a simple film touching on complicated relationships, generational trauma and mental health. Humorous, heartfelt, heart aching yet subdued, it deserves the awards and accolades it’s been receiving. Glad I didn’t let it get by. "

"Meh"

"Before Sunrise but with polar opposite cousins rather than star-crossed lovers. What a treat!"

"Nice to see some emotional intelligence in a movie . It’s well written and acted and def made me cry a little . "

"Who cut the onions ? 🧅 "

"Beautiful movie. Sad, funny, real and meaningful. Be there for your loved ones. "

"A fantastic film! This is essentially a simple road movie involving 2 cousins visiting Poland and going on a tour to the places their recently deceased grandmother lived. I was especially struck by how organic the whole movie felt, be it from the family bond to the dialogues and more. Phenomenal writing and acting by the 2 leads (Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg (the latter of whom also wrote and directed the film)), with Kieran Culkin in particular standing out (he is frankly the soul of this movie and I’ll be very happy if he wins the Supporting Actor Oscar for this). Jesse Eisenberg shows remarkable promise as a writer and director with this movie, and I cannot wait to see what he does next. Easily one of the Top 10 best films of the year, and one that everyone should watch."

"Ehh, just ok. Kind of slow moving. "

"this film asks a lot of good questions. that jesse eisenberg monologue about halfway through sealed the deal that he knows what he’s doing as both a writer & actor. the tension between david & benji was real and palpable, you could feel the care they had but there was so much left unsaid, and so much that probably shouldn’t have been said about their true perceptions of each other. the dynamic of having a bunch of strangers in a tour group as supporting characters helped our understanding of how david & benji operate so differently. just brilliant stuff i really love the symbolism and the connection and just the overall display of those uncomfy dynamics we experience with people we love but just feel a deep contrast from. "