A Different Man

Last updated

A Different Man
A Different Man poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Aaron Schimberg
Written byAaron Schimberg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWyatt Garfield
Edited byTaylor Levy
Music byUmberto Smerilli
Production
companies
Distributed byA24
Release dates
  • January 21, 2024 (2024-01-21)(Sundance)
  • September 20, 2024 (2024-09-20)(United States)
Running time
112 minutes [2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.2 million [3] [4]

A Different Man is a 2024 American black comedy psychological thriller film [5] [6] [7] written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson.

Contents

The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024, and was screened at the main competition of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, where Stan won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance. [8] It was released theatrically in the United States by A24 on September 20, 2024, and received mostly positive reviews from critics. At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, Stan was nominated for the Best Performance by a Male Actor – Musical or Comedy category. [9]

Plot

Edward Lemuel is a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis that manifests as a disfiguring facial condition. He befriends his new neighbor Ingrid Vold, an aspiring playwright, but is too nervous to act on his romantic feelings towards her. After receiving an experimental medical treatment that cures him of his condition, he assumes the identity of "Guy Moratz" and claims that Edward has killed himself.

Some time later, "Guy" is now a wealthy and successful real estate agent. One day, he discovers that Ingrid is producing Edward, an off-Broadway play that she has written based on his life; he auditions and is cast in the lead role. Edward and Ingrid begin a sexual relationship soon thereafter, though Ingrid remains unaware of the truth of his identity. During rehearsals, they are visited by Oswald, a man with neurofibromatosis who has taken an interest in the play. The confident and charismatic Oswald quickly befriends the cast and crew, although Edward is perturbed by his outgoing demeanor.

Ingrid and Oswald grow closer, and after Edward is unable to memorize his lines, she decides to recast Oswald in the lead role. The play is a success, and Oswald's performance receives rave reviews. Edward's mental state begins to deteriorate: he begins stalking Oswald, is fired from his real estate job, and eventually storms the stage of the play one night to physically attack Oswald. During the scuffle, part of the set falls on Edward, breaking his legs and arms. While he recovers from his injuries, he moves back into his former apartment next to Ingrid, who is now living with Oswald and making plans to adapt Edward into a film. One day, after Edward's physical therapist expresses disgust for Oswald behind his back, Edward stabs him and is jailed.

Years later, an aged Edward once again encounters Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid, now a married and highly successful creative duo who are planning their retirement to a commune in Canada. A waiter arrives to take their orders, but a visibly nervous Edward struggles to choose from the menu. Oswald jokes that Edward has not changed a bit.

Cast

Production

A Different Man was announced in June 2022, with Aaron Schimberg set as writer and director. Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson were also announced as the leads, with Christine Vachon, Gabriel Mayers and Vanessa McDonnell set as producers. [1]

Principal photography began in July 2022 and shot over 22 days in New York City, primarily in the East Village, the Upper West Side, and parts of Brooklyn. [10] [11]

Release

A Different Man premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024. [12] It also screened in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024. [13] It also screened at New Directors/New Films Festival on April 3, 2024. [14] It was released in the United States on September 20, 2024, [15] and in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2024. [2] The film has been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section. [16]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 92% of 149 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.The website's consensus reads: "Surreal and unsettling, A Different Man overcomes an occasionally tenuous narrative grasp by virtue of its bold, provocative approach to serious themes." [17] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [18]

The film was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review, [19] and ranked 21 on the Sight & Sound Best 50 Movies of 2024. [20]

Accolades

The film was selected in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, thus it was nominated to compete for the Golden Bear award.

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 4, 2024Directors to Watch Aaron Schimberg Won [21]
Berlin International Film Festival February 25, 2024 Golden Bear Nominated [22]
Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance Sebastian Stan Won [8]
Sitges Film Festival October 13, 2024 Best Feature FilmA Different ManNominated [23] [24]
Best ScreenplayAaron SchimbergWon
Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024Maverick AwardSebastian StanWon [25]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Best Feature Aaron Schimberg, Gabriel Mayers, Vanessa McDonnell and Christine Vachon Won [26]
Outstanding Supporting Performance Adam Pearson Nominated
National Board of Review December 4, 2024 Top Ten Independent Films A Different ManWon [27]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association December 8, 2024 Best Supporting Performance Adam PearsonRunner-up [a] [28]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 11, 2024 Best Supporting Actor Nominated [29]
New York Film Critics Online December 16, 2024Best ActorSebastian StanPending [30]
Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2025 Best Performance by a Male Actor – Musical or Comedy Pending [9]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 12, 2025 Best Hair and Make-Up Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman and Aaron SaucierPending [31]
Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild February 15, 2025 Best Special Make-Up Effects Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal JunadoPending [32]
Independent Spirit Awards February 22, 2025 Best Supporting Performance Adam Pearson Pending [33]
Best Screenplay Aaron Schimberg Pending

See also

Films also starring Pearson:

Notes

  1. Shared with Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing

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