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Summary: After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei, and hardcore brown belt Anna, Casey gains a newfound sense of confidence for the first time in his life.
After a brutal and random attack by a motorcycle gang, a nebbishy accountant joins a fight club: So begins The Art of Self-Defense, the puckeringly dry new satire of toxic masculinity starring...
Jul 12, 2019 · Writer/director Riley Stearns explores this particularly masculine form of toxicity in “The Art of Self-Defense,” a dark comedy that’s equal parts amusing and disturbing.
- Jesse Eisenberg leads this restrained, introspective martial arts comedy.
- The Art of Self-Defense Gallery
- Verdict
By Matt Dougherty
Updated: Jul 11, 2019 11:39 pm
Posted: Jul 11, 2019 1:00 am
It’s apparent from the get-go that The Art of Self-Defense isn’t trying to put a spotlight on the real world as we see it. Writer-director Riley Stearns, for his second feature, channels the likes of Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite) and Charlie Kaufman (Synecdoche, New York) in terms of tone, but he’s really telling a story one would find in the martial arts films of old. The twist, however, is that it’s set in contemporary, non-glamorous America (the film was shot in Kentucky).
The story follows Casey (Jesse Eisenberg), a meek accountant who, after a brutal mugging by a motorcycle gang, takes up karate classes with the unnamed local Sensei (Alessandro Nivola). The classes are intense not so much because of their content, but because of the instructor who seems picked right out of a Bruce Lee film. Casey lets it go to his head, wearing his small ascension to yellow belt proudly, and slowly falling under his Sensei’s spell thanks to the minor amount of power and gratification the classes give him.
The way characters speak in Stearns’ script might take getting used to for some, as Eisenberg and Imogen Poots, playing Anna, his lone female classmate, state emotions and motivations plainly and directly, with little more emotion than the basic characterizations and personality quirks defined in their first scenes. But simple is exactly what Stearns is going for. The film’s dryness is pertinent for its specific sense of humor to land. Not unlike Office Space or The Lobster, The Art of Self-Defense uses the miniscule satisfaction of nonsense achievements, such as advancing to yellow belt in your 30s, to satirize the smallness of everyday life.
And yet, Stearns’ script states its themes so upfront that the film doesn’t leave a whole lot to chew on once it’s over. The Art of Self-Defense at its root is a story about the dangers of a violent mindset, primarily those typically associated with men. In today’s world, there’s a lot to say about that, but Stearns stops just short of saying something new. Instead, he repeats points made before in as creative and entertaining a way as he can muster.
There are so many precise little comedic details, such as the pointed set decoration in Casey’s home and the Sensei’s dojo, that help realize Stearns’ vision fully. Eisenberg proves to be a serviceable lead to guide us through that vision, but really it’s Poots and Nivola who wind up most realizing the film’s unique personality. Still, the film’s undeniable originality comes from the mind of Stearns. His hilarious, and occasionally quite tense, critique of the notion that physical strength and power are intrinsically linked in today’s world boasts a brutal honesty few filmmakers would dare dive into.
One of the most original films of the year so far, The Art of Self-Defense is a searing critique of male violence, and the notion of power at large, told through a traditional kung fu flick set in present day America. Dryly funny, the film also carries a wisdom that makes Riley Stearns a talent to watch.
The Art of Self-Defense grapples compellingly with modern American masculinity -- and serves as an outstanding calling card for writer-director Riley Stearns. Read Critics Reviews
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In Self Defense. A child therapist (Linda Purl) packs a gun after a known killer she identifies goes free for lack of evidence. Watch In Self Defense with a subscription on Prime Video.
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