A Real Pain is a deeply moving exploration of grief, generational trauma and family that not only features two outstanding performances from Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, but showcases Eisenberg’s talent as both a writer and director in one of the most beautiful films of the year.

 

Everyone knows that Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin can be incredibly funny based on their past work, but we are not that accustomed to seeing them in more dramatic roles. While there are some moments of great comedy woven into Eisenberg’s second feature film that he has written and directed, it is the story’s emotional depths and truths that he mines in this film about two mismatched cousins on a tour in Poland to honour their late grandmother that makes A Real Pain one of the most profound and sentimental films of the entire year. Eisenberg achieves this by speaking to the audience on a deeper level through the emotions explored in his screenplay, which will leave viewers thinking about these two characters long after the credits have stopped rolling.

 

Grief does strange things to individuals, and it is often hard to talk about, even with loved ones. That is merely one of the elements that Eisenberg writes about in his newest film, as he explores grief against the backdrop of generational trauma and the complex relationship of two polar opposite cousins, each dealing with their own internal struggles. The dynamic between Benji and David is wonderfully developed, with each stop on their tour deepening each of their pain and displaying it in different ways. Benji, the more vocal of the two, has outbursts that despite him appearing to always be the life of the party, masks a pain that he is not willing to address and constantly distracts from. On the other hand, David is the quieter of the two, internalizing everything until he reaches a breaking point as he tries to address the pain that he knows Benji is dealing with and bears it himself. It is an honest portrayal of how many care for loved ones, with their two personalities constantly clashing, which only furthers the bond between these two characters. Eisenberg handles both characters' arcs with sincerity and grace, allowing the character to leap right off the screen with all their imperfections and defining traits, cementing A Real Pain as one of the best original screenplays of the year.

 

Though, it is the performances of Eisenberg and Culkin that truly bring the writing to life. Eisenberg is perfectly at home in the role of David, bringing that socially awkward energy to the character that we have seen from him time and time again. Internalizing David’s pain and concern for his cousin, Eisenberg slowly pushes David to a breaking point, resulting in that unforgettable dinner scene. In that one moment, Eisenberg mines a raw vulnerability that showcases his true range as a dramatic actor that not only creates one of the most gut wrenching moments of the film that will leave a lump in your throat, but is without question one of the best scenes of his career. It should be no surprise that Culkin becomes the life of the party as Benji, bringing a wicked comedic timing to the film that generates some truly hilarious moments. But underneath all the comedy, Culkin infuses Benji with a sorrow that he is not willing to address, causing him to continually spiral throughout the film as he struggles to come to terms with his true emotions regarding this trip, the passing of his grandmother, and his life in general. It makes for one tour de force performance that not only dominates the entire film, but when Benji hits his emotional breaking point, one that will leave audiences speechless as they process Benji’s grief alongside him. Culkin truly gives one of the most moving performances of the entire year, and one that should rightfully earn him his first Academy Award nomination.