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- 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.
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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. Stearns is ambitious in the tricky tonal balance he aims to strike here – shocking us in detached, deadpan fashion—and his story wobbles a bit by the end, but the ...
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Mar 11, 2019 · Dark, sinister, and disarmingly hilarious, “The Art of Self-Defense” tells the story of how someone like Casey learns to stand up for himself by signing up for karate classes.
Jul 23, 2019 · The Art of Self-Defense is one of the very best dark comedies of the decade, if not the most relevant. Many films offer a faux black humor, but only in shock value. By the end of the film, it offers the type of true black humor that’s slow-played and offers a greater payoff.
- 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. After getting attacked on the street, Casey enlists in a local dojo that's led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei. He soon uncovers a sinister fraternity of violence...
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- Riley Stearns
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- Jesse Eisenberg
The Art of Self-Defense is a 2019 American martial arts black comedy film written and directed by Riley Stearns and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola and Imogen Poots. It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2019, and was released in the United States on July 12, 2019, by Bleecker Street.
Jul 12, 2019 · Summary After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself.
