A Real Pain

A really excellent movie, filled with a lot of uncomfortable scenes, that manages to be funny and moving at the same time. Very much reminiscent of the feel of some of Woody Allen’s more mature movies. Even the thoughtful choice of music had that intimate feel. I truly appreciated the psychological nuance in the relationship between the two main characters.

Benji portrayed the bipolar character well. Sometimes they are depressed sometimes they are hyper. The movie can seem contrived but overall is a great movie.

Has some incredibly relatable and human moments.

74%. Story of two estranged cousins getting together to visit Poland where their grandmother was fun. Kieran is great in this. Has some funny moments. Kieran's character is a bit annoying at points. The dynamic between him and Jesse's character is interesting. Jesse is clearly very frustrated with him but also is jealous of how Kieran is with people and how people gravitate toward him. Easy watch. 2/5 rewatch

This one took me by surprise. Many themes and all thoughtfully observed. But, the one theme that stuck with me is how it is possible to continue to love someone when they have failed you or come to peace knowing the love one’s mental illness is beyond your help.

"A Real Pain" is a film directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who also stars in it alongside Kieran Culkin in the lead roles. The story follows two mismatched cousins who embark on a tour of Poland to explore their Jewish heritage and learn about their grandmother's history after her passing. Overall, it was a decent film. It features some funny moments as well as very emotional scenes, and the acting is solid. However, I struggled to understand the film's message or point, as these elements were not clearly explained. Additionally, the film ends on an open note, which added to my confusion. If it weren't for these drawbacks, I would have understood the film more. Nevertheless, if you're in the mood for a funny and emotional experience, I recommend giving it a watch.

I am so glad I passed on this movie and streamed this. I thought this was going to be pretty good to great but kierran culkins character was annoying obnoxious and unkind. I mean a character like this can be fun and likeable..i think john candy nailed the lovable guy that was an extravert. Kirrens charecter portrays a terrible person I mean a real me time jerk. There was 3 min of visiting a haulocaust site..but it was so brief it's barely poinent. If your looking for a jerk filled movie where 1 guy dominates and ruins a groups trip and that's your type of movie than this is for you. There is nothing interesting that happens in this movie except the 3 min holocaust trip. The best part of this movie is how short it is..and at the end the cousin bonding was nil. The fact this was nominated for an award was baffling. I hope this review helps someone. I want my hour and 33min back.

Led by masterful performances from its two leads (particularly Kieran Culkin), A Real Pain doesn't captivate me fully in its story and i wasn't as emotionally connected as i would have wanted, but this is nevertheless a sharp and intelligent dramedy that looks great and handles themes of mental health, trauma and legacy with powerful insight.

Dear Jesse, Thank you so much! Your work, A Real Pain, is truly remarkable. I’ve visited some of those places in Poland on a guided tour, and I deeply appreciate the way you chose to portray them. There was a sense of truth and delicacy in how you presented both the landscapes and the emotional terrain. What struck me most were the dynamics between the brothers. I felt there were many subtle allegories there. The characters and the way others respond to them — it all felt so thoughtfully observed. I personally relate very closely to David’s character. People like me often encounter people like Benji in life. We tend to process things internally, yet are deeply attuned to others’ emotions. Our pain is no less real, it’s just turned inward. Benji, on the other hand, expresses everything so outwardly — he’s vivid, and centered in his own experience. In my family, along with the tragedy of the Holocaust, we also carry the trauma of the Siege of Leningrad. My grandfather was taken for forced labor — they’re all gone now, but on special days, you remember them. And there are “stones,” too, to keep their memory alive. Thank you again for your beautiful, honest film.

Awful - just couldn't care less what happens to the characters. It tries to be serious, but fails. Maybe too deep for me, but I just didn't engage with the actors at all.