Movie Review - A Real Pain

Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Grey,
 
Description: Mismatched cousins (Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tension resurfaces against the backdrop of their family history.

 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 40: A FILM FROM 2024

Review: In “A Real Pain”, we meet Benji and David, cousins who get together for a trip through Poland, in honor of their grandmother who has just passed. Benji is a troubled, complex man with no real plan in life and David seems to have his life together with a wife and son, and couldn’t be more different from Benji.

The film is a layered dramedy that explores the complexity of family, trauma, and identity. This through the duo of Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, who, despite their differences, create a moving road movie about the Holocaust past. The film combines sharp humor and deep drama to address universal themes. The chemistry between Eisenberg and Culkin is the heart of the movie. They are so different from each other, though they do look up to one another and learn from each other as well.

There is a perfect balance between humor and drama. It’s not just your everyday buddy road trip movie. It’s a journey through Poland, with a focus on the Holocaust. It serves as a backdrop for personal growth and the discovery of their family roots.

The film is fairly slow, which can throw viewers off, and the ending might feel abrupt as well. I think both worked in their favor. The slow pace fits the story and tone and the ending also felt right for this film. But I do understand this being a negative for some people.

“A Real Pain” is a wonderful film, that was nominated for two Academy Awards: best original screenplay (Jesse Eisenberg) and best supporting actor (Kieran Culkin). Culkin very deservedly took home the award, he is so good in this film. For only a 90 minute runtime, this film showed us a lot of character growth and emotional baggage. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Zombieland: Double Tap

Director: Ruben Fleischer
Genre: Comedy/ Action/ Horror
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Zoey Deutch, Rosario Dawson, Luke Wilson, Bill Murray, Thomas Middleditch

Description: Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family.

Review: The subgenre, horror comedy, is one of my personal favorites. Especially when it has to do with zombies. When “Zombieland” came out in 2009, it was a surprising, fresh and hilarious film that really impressed. It mocks itself and is creative. Ten years later, director Ruben Fleisher comes with the sequel. Maybe a little late, but better late than never. Because, did we need it? Not really. Did I enjoy it? Hell yeah!
In 2009, besides Woody Harrelson, all actors were fairly new to Hollywood. Now, it stars Oscar nominees and even one winner, being Emma Stone. Besides this difference, the cast hasn’t changed a bit and the chemistry is still a strong element in the film. The bickering between Columbus and Tallahassee, the creative ways to kill a zombie, sharp dialogue. Off course it doesn’t reach the same level as “Zombieland”, but “Zombieland: Double Tap” comes awfully close.
“Zombieland: Double Tap” is more of the same, but we loved the first so why change the formula? It’s not as original as the first, but it’s a great sequel. And if you’re a fan of the original film, you will enjoy this one as well.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 90: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Director: Zack Snyder
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 151 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Scoot McNairy, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kevin Costner

Description: Fearing that the actions of Superman (Henry Cavill) are left unchecked, Batman (Ben Affleck) takes on the Man of Steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs.

Review: Let’s be honest: the DC comics is a little behind on Marvel when it comes to their movies. Marvel had their standalone films for Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America and eventually teamed them up in “Avengers”. DC Comics is now bringing Superman and Batman together, two of the biggest superheroes ever.
Bruce Wayne saw his building for Wayne Enterprises fall and many people died because of it. This battle was fought by Superman and ever since then Bruce wants justice. Superman is still loved by people, but also hated by many others.
The character of Superman feels dynamic and human. Henry Cavill carries this role very well. Ben Affleck plays Batman for the first time. He is an excellent Bruce Wayne, but he didn’t completely convince me as Batman. And I don’t know if it’s just me, but his voice as Batman really annoyed me. We are introduced to Wonder Woman, who doesn’t really get a lot of screen time. But what we get is good. Jesse Eisenberg is a good villain.
“Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” is the spectacle that we were promised. And it’s visual very stylish. This film has hardly any humor in it, it’s a very dark and serious film. But the movie feels a little but messy at some points. And the emotional climax is overshadowed by the promise of a Justice League film.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 85: The Squid and the Whale

Director: Noah Baumbach
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 81 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Owen Kline, William Baldwin, Anna Paquin

Description: Follows two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

Review: An estranged mother and father tell their two sons they are getting a divorce. But what effect will it have on them?
It’s 1986, New York. Professor Bernard Berkman and his wife Joan have grown apart. Bernard is a brilliant man, fascinated by himself and no longer interested in his wife. That’s why Joan has had her share of affairs. The two decide to separate. Their two sons, the sixteen-year-old Walt and the four year younger Frank, are the victims. Bernard has to move into a small apartment in a bad neighborhood. Frank wants to stay with his mom, while Walt adores his dad. Walt blames his mother for everything. Everything gets more complicated when one of Bernard’s students, Lili, moves in with them and gets the interest of both Bernard and Walt. And Joan starts seeing Frank’s tennis coach.
Noah Baumback is a very intelligent film maker. Together with Wes Anderson he wrote “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” and you see the influence of Anderson in “The Squid and the Whale”.
I somehow always enjoy films with dysfunctional families, because this way I realize how great my family is. The kids, Walt and Frank, are played very natural by Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline. Both are unsure about everything that is about to happen and deal with the situation in their own way. Jeff Daniels, who plays Bernard, I have always found a very underrated actor. He is really good in this film. And Laura Linney is also very strong as Joan.
Because of the great acting, the realistic happenings, the good script and the characters, this movie works well. “The Squid and the Whale” is a must-see for people who love tragic comedic family films. Fantastic film!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Actors/ Actress We Want to See in a Tarantino Movie

Quentin Tarantino is my favorite director and he has made great film, created memorable characters and also managed to get fantastic actors for his films. Think of Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Uma Thurman and Kurt Russell among many others. But there are so many actors we wish would star in a Tarantino movie. Here are my five favorites.

5. Jesse Eisenberg

Not an obvious choice, but I’m kind of tired of seeing Jesse Eisenberg in the same roles. If anyone can get him out of his comfort zone, it’s Quentin Tarantino. Look at Channing Tatum, Diane Kruger and John Travolta. Let Eisenberg get a little crazy with success.

 

 

4. Josh Brolin

He is a well-known face in the Coen Brothers universe, but he would fit into the Tarantino world too. He has been in the Robert Rodriguez directed segment of “Grindhouse” so technically he wasn’t in a Tarantino movie. Josh Brolin is a great actor, who can play dark characters and has a wide range which he proved with movies like “No Country for Old Men” and “Sicario”.

 

 

3. Oscar Isaac

For Oscar Isaac 2015 was a fantastic year. He starred in “A Most Violent Year”, “Ex Machina” and off course “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Although he didn’t exactly steal the show in the last film, Poe Dameron is becoming this generation’s Han Solo. His performance was both cocky and charismatic and Isaac is also one of the most interesting actors of the moment. In “Ex Machina” he showed us a darker side of himself and he would fit perfectly into a Tarantino film.

 

 

2. Cate Blanchett

I don’t think I need to make an argument. Cate Blanchett is one of the best actresses living today. She is such a graceful actress and wouldn’t it be fun to see her lose that grace in a Tarantino movie. To be a bit more gritty. We all know Blanchett can pull it off, like she does every other role.

 

 

1. Javier Bardem

He can play a mean villain, but how about a villainous character Quentin Tarantino wrote? Tarantino created some memorable bad guys like Mr. Blonde, Hans Landa and Calvin Candy. Javier Bardem can easily portay a villain that feels comfortable in the Tarantino universe.

 

 

They almost made the top 5: Edward Norton, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Scarlett Johansson, Nicolas Cage

Marry, Kiss, Cliff - Round 10

Round 10: Mark Zuckerberg (“The Social Network”), Luke Skywalker (“Star Wars”) and Dom Cobb (“Inception”)

Marry: I don’t really want to marry any of them. One is a douche, one has daddy issues and one has wife issues. I would have to go with Luke Skywalker, he at least has the force. And he knows Yoda, who is super awesome!

Kiss: Dom Cobb has a strange job and he never got over the death of his wife. Just a quick kiss and then run away even faster.

Cliff: I know Mark Zuckerberg is probably the most normal person of the three, but he’s kind of a douchebag. I know he’s loaded, but I don’t want to be with a rich douche.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 117: American Ultra

Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Genre: Action/ Comedy

Runtime: 99 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Walton Goggins, John Leguizamo, Bill Pullman

Description: A stoner (Jesse Eisenberg) - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.

Review: Films, where the leads are stoners, can nowadays be put into its own genre. Think of movies like “Pineapple Express” and “Dude, Where’s My Car?”. “American Ultra” is also one of those films.

Mike is a nobody, who spends his days smoking weed and hang out with his girlfriend Phoebe, while working at the local supermarket. His anxiety to leave town doesn’t really help him any further either. A woman visits him at work and starts talking to him in words he doesn’t understand. Mike sends her away and not long after that two armed men try to kill him. Surprising himself, he overpowers them. How is it possible that he can do that?

The movie is meant to be a comedic action movie, but you’re never sure if this is supposed to be taken seriously or that it’s a parody on the genre of spy thrillers. The cast is good though. Jesse Eisenberg was made for a role like this and has great chemistry with Kristen Stewart. Topher Grace was funny and Connie Britton did a good job too.

Besides a few cool action scenes, the story develops slowly and the ending isn’t surprising at all. The movie is not as spectacular as the trailer let us believe.

The movie is somewhat entertaining, but I had higher expectations. The concept is great, the execution sadly isn’t.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 63: Night Moves

Director: Kelly Reichardt

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 112 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Peter Sarsgaard, Jesse Eisenberg, Alia Shawkat, James Le Gros, Katherine Waterston, Lew Temple, Clara Mamet, Logan Miller, Nate Mooney, Matt Malloy, Kai Lennox, Bart McCarthy, Griffin Newman, Barry Del Sherman, Scott Patrick Green, Mikey Kampmann, Matthew Joel Flood

Description: Three radical environmentalists look to execute the protest of their lives: the explosion of a hydroelectric dam.

Review: Environmental activism knows many forms. Some activists free hamsters from labs, others go after whalers, when one person lives in a tree house to save the forest. Normally it doesn’t result in victims, which does happen in “Night Moves”.

In “Night Moves” three young activists plan to blow up a dam. The dam generates hydro-electricity, a controversial form to get energy. In the first hour we see the preparation, the second hours shows us the execution of the plan. And what this does, to the people who did it.

Everything they have to do to prepare for the big night is not as exciting as you might think. It’s not dangerous and gives you more to think about then adrenaline. The explosion itself isn’t all that spectacular either, but it’s not supposed to be about that. It’s about the after effect. It has a great impact on the three activists. Where it eventually leads to is a bit far-fetched, but the psychological pressure on the three is perceptible.

Besides an interesting theme, the movie also has excellent acting. And off course beautiful visuals of Oregon. “Night Moves” is somewhat slow, but is atmospheric and interesting.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Battle: Adventureland Vs. The Way Way Back

Both movies I really loved the first time I watched them. They are both coming of age movies, centering around a guy who just tries to feel normal and start a job at a park. “Adventureland” Vs. “The Way Way Back”

 

 

CAST

Adventureland: The leading part is for the easy likeable Jesse Eisenberg. His love interest is played by Kristen Stewart and the really funny roles are for Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. Ryan Reynolds also has a role.

The Way Way Back: Relatively unknown Liam Jones plays the leading role. His mother is portrayed by Toni Collette and his douche of a stepdad is played by Steve Carell. A great role by the way. Sam Rockwell plays my favourite character in the movie, it’s impossible to not like this guy. Also a fun roles for Allison Janney and Maya Rudolph, and AnnaSophie Robb plays the love interest.

STORY

Adventureland: It’s set in 1987. Eisenberg plays college graduate James Brennan who takes a ‘nowhere’ job at his local amusement park. He thinks it’s the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.

The Way Way Back: Duncan is a shy guy, who goes on vacation with his mom, mom’s new boyfriend and the boyfriend’s daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds just the place. He starts working at the local Water Park, where he finds an unexpected friend in manager Owen.

EFFECTS

Adventureland: The movie has a cool 80’s vibe, due to the clothes, music and surroundings.

The Way Way Back: It’s mostly about the characters and the story here. You do get a summer feeling while watching the movie.

WINNER

“The Way Way Back”. It’s such a good film, I can’t fault it. It’s a guarantee to make you feel better and gives you an instant smile.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 47: Now You See Me

Director: Louis Leterrier
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo, Mélanie Laurent

Description: An FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective (Mélanie Laurent) track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

Review: “Now You See Me” introduces the four illusionists in the opening sequence. All of them with their own specialty. The magicians are brought together by a mysterious figure and they get a Las Vegas show. In that show it seems that ‘the four horsemen’ are robbing a bank in Paris. FBI agent Dylan Rhodes and Interpol agent Alma Vargas have the task to find out how they pulled it off.
Because you’re constantly shifting between the four illusionists and the two law enforcers, it’s really hard to see the ethnic difference between good and bad. It’s never clear who the real protagonist is in the movie. The story is missing an edge. With that the characters aren’t all as important. Of the four magicians, there are only two that really have a purpose. The other two stay in the background. Eventually we get a pretty predictable twist in the end.
The visuals are amazing, it’s a very good looking movie. And it’s certainly a very good concept. But it’s not as sensational as the tricks in the film.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 4: To Rome with Love

Director: Woody Allen
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 89 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Woody Allen, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, Alec Baldwin, Penélope Cruz, Roberto Benigni, Greta Gerwich, Alison Pil, Judy Davis, Alessandro Tiberi, Alessandra Mastronardi, Flavio Parenti

Description: The intertwining stories of a worker who wakes up to find himself a celebrity (Roberto Benigni), an architect (Alec Baldwin) who takes a trip back to the street he lived on as a student, a young couple (Alessandro Tiberi, Alessandra Mastronardi ) on their honeymoon, and a frustrated opera director (Woody Allen) who has a talent for discovering talented singers.

Review: For director Woody Allen it has become the recipe: pick a famous city, choose a couple of interesting characters, add some storylines to it and finish it off with some witty comedy. Where he’s taken on Barcelona (“Vicky Cristina Barcelon”), London (“You Will Mee a Tall Dark Stranger”) and Paris (“Midnight in Paris”), he chose Rome for his décor this time.
I always like movies with multiple storylines, but it’s a bit too much here, even for Woody Allen. It’s very hard to make four completely different stories, which absolutely no relation, interesting. Which make some of the storylines feel a bit incomplete. For instance the story op Leopoldo, an average citizen who becomes a celebrity all of a sudden. It’s a good concept but doesn’t have the humor it should have. None of these stories are above average and the characters are all superficial and easily replaceable.
“To Rome with Love” does have some interesting moments, like the story of Jerry who discover that Giancarlo is a fantastic opera singer. But it also appears that he can only sing this well in the shower. This storyline is funny at times. The music that was used for the film is very characteristic and makes you think you’re in Rome. But the city of Rome isn’t used the way Allen did with Paris in one of my favorites “Midnight in Paris”, which was a hit. Is “To Rome with Love” a miss? Not completely, but it’s definitely not one of his best movies.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Battle: Shaun of the Dead Vs. Zombieland

Another new item. In Movie Battle I will compare two movies which have certain similarities, like a theme, director or actors. I will judge both movies on their cast, story and effects. Eventually I will announce one winner.

First it's zombies. My two favorite zombie movies go head to head, who will win this battle? Lets find out.

CAST

Shaun of the Dead: At the time this movie came out, the actors weren’t all that well known. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are now one of the funniest comedy duo on the planet, but the only person that we knew well in this film was Bill Nighy. This movie put Pegg and Frost on the map for me and would soon be unforgettable.

Zombieland: With this movie my light obsessions for Emma Stone. She is great. Jesse Eisenberg is a bit typecast as this nerdy, losery guy. He does that well. Abigail Breslin is no longer a kid and Woody Harrelson play my favourite part in “Zombieland”. He kicks some zombie ass! So all four actors in this movie did a good job.

STORY

Shaun of the Dead: England has already been taken over by zombies, but Shaun doesn’t realize it yet until there is a strange girl standing in his yard. When she is speared and still gets up, Shaun and Ed know something’s wrong. It’s hilarious how they try to fight them.

Zombieland: In this movie the world only has a few living people. Besides the four I mentioned earlier, Bill Murray is also one of them. Columbus has made a list of rules for survival, which he mentions throughout the movie.

EFFECTS

Shaun of the Dead: Not a lot of effects needed, but the zombies look very real. And so does the blood (you got red on you).The movie is well filmed, with these earthy tones.

Zombieland: There were more effect needed here, as for the zombies are a bit faster in this movie. Especially the scene where we get to see the zombie kill of the week, needed some extra touches. Everything looks a bit more flashy.

WINNER

I love both movies a lot. I always like zombie movies, funny or just scary (ok, I prefer funny). But I have to go with “Shaun of the Dead” because British humor is just a little bit better.

In the Picture: The Characters from "Zombieland"

Zombie movies are always fun to watch, especially with a big dose of humor. And some cool characters. Here are the characters from “Zombieland”.

Columbus
Played by: Jesse Eisenberg
Columbus is a very kind and loyal guy, who might seem a bit whimpy but he isn’t. He has a list of rules to follow in order to survive zombieland. He is trying to get to his parents and to find out if they’re still alive.

Tallahassee
Played by: Woody Harrelson
Tallahassee is a tough guy and he decides to travel together with Columbus. Deep inside he isn’t all that tough, because he lost someone important. And Tallahassee has a week spot for Twinkies.

Wichita
Played by: Emma Stone
Wichita is a girl you don’t want to mess with. All she wants is to protect her sister and she will stop at nothing. Wichita isn’t your average girl, she knows her way around a gun and she can be quite manipulative. She was a con artist before the catastrophe.

Little Rock
Played by: Abigail Breslin
Little Rock is Wichita’s sister and she leans on her. She wants to go to “Pacific Playland” with her big sister, because it’s supposed to be zombie free. Little Rock is a nice girl, but she did learn some tricks from her sister.

Favorite Character: Tallahassee