A Real Pain

Last updated

A Real Pain
A Real Pain (2024 film) poster.jpg
Directed by Jesse Eisenberg
Written byJesse Eisenberg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMichal Dymek
Edited byRobert Nassau
Production
companies
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • January 20, 2024 (2024-01-20)(Sundance)
  • November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01)(United States)
Running time
90 minutes [3]
Countries
  • United States
  • Poland [3]
LanguageEnglish

A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy drama film, written, directed, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg. It stars Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes. Emma Stone serves as a producer under her Fruit Tree banner.

Contents

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024, and is scheduled for limited theatrical release in the United States on November 1, 2024. A Real Pain will have its European Premiere at the 20th Zurich Film Festival [4] on October 2024.

Premise

A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Cast

Production

Principal photography in Lublin A Real Pain movie production in Lublin.jpg
Principal photography in Lublin

In August 2022, it was announced Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin would star in the film, with Eisenberg directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Emma Stone and Dave McCary set to produce. [6] It marks Eisenberg's second feature film as writer/director, after 2022's When You Finish Saving the World . [7]

Principal photography began in May 2023. [8] [9]

Release

It premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024. [10] Shortly after, Searchlight Pictures acquired worldwide rights to the film for $10 million in an all-night auction. [11] [12] A Real Pain will have it's European Premiere at the 20th Zurich Film Festival on October 2024.

Originally scheduled to be released in the United States on October 18, 2024, [13] the film's release was subsequently pushed by two weeks to November 1. [14]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 91% of 55 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10.The website's consensus reads: "Led by a scene-stealing turn from Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain is a powerfully funny, emotionally resonant dramedy that finds writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg playing to his strengths on either side of the camera." [15] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [16]

Damon Wise of Deadline Hollywood praised Culkin for his performance, calling it "a career high". [17]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Sundance Film Festival January 26, 2024 Grand Jury Prize – DramaticA Real PainNominated [18]
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award Jesse Eisenberg Won

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References

  1. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (January 21, 2024). "'A Real Pain' Review: Jesse Eisenberg Becomes a Major Filmmaker — and Kieran Culkin a Movie Star — in a Funny, Knife-Sharp Odyssey". Variety . Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ Rooney, David (January 20, 2024). "A Real Pain' Review: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin in a Film That Flows From Humor to Unexpectedly Affecting Places". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "A Real Pain". Sundance Film Festival . Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Oscar contenders as gala premieres at the ZFF". mailings.zff.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Ellora Torchia". Conway Van Gelder Grant. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ Dalton, Ben (August 17, 2022). "Jesse Eisenberg to direct 'A Real Pain', will star opposite Kieran Culkin (exclusive)". Screen International . Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  7. ↑ Goslin, Austen (January 26, 2024). "Jesse Eisenberg's new movie A Real Pain has what Succession fans have been missing". Polygon. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  8. ↑ "PRODUCTION: Jesse Eisenberg Shoots A Real Pain Starring Himself and Kieran Culkin in Poland". Film New Europe. May 26, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dowell, Stuart (May 19, 2023). "Hollywood duo surprise Muranów locals after being spotted filming in Warsaw". The First News. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 21, 2024). "Searchlight Lands Jesse Eisenberg-Directed 'A Real Pain' In First Big Sundance $10M WW Deal; 'Succession's Kieran Culkin Stars In Poland Road Trip Pic". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  12. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (January 21, 2024). "Sundance: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin Movie 'A Real Pain' Sells to Searchlight Pictures". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  13. ↑ Tangonan, EJ (April 2, 2024). "A Real Pain: Jesse Eisenberg's new film releases a new behind-the-scenes photo and announces a release date". Joblo.com . Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 2, 2024). "Marvel Studios 2026 Title Subtracted From Release Sked, Searchlight's 'A Real Pain' Shifts". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  15. ↑ "A Real Pain". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved August 11, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  16. ↑ "A Real Pain". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  17. ↑ Wise, Damon (January 22, 2024). "'A Real Pain' Review: Kieran Culkin Leaves Roman Roy Behind In Jesse Eisenberg's Intimate Road Movie – Sundance Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ "AwardsWatch - 2024 Sundance Film Festival Awards: 'In the Summers, 'Didi,' 'Daughters' Top Winners". AwardsWatch. January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
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