A Real Pain 2024
I don't think this movie was in theaters long or I would have gone to see it. It got some Oscar nominations, so I used a free rental to get it, but didn't end up actually watching it until after the final awards were announced (Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor; Jesse Eisenberg had to settle for being nominated for writing). The movie is kind of a classic indie road movie where these two cousins who grow up almost like brothers have drifted apart but go on a trip to Poland to celebrate the life of their grandmother who has passed away recently. Culkin plays a slacker still struggling to find his way in life while Eisenberg has a job and family, so it's care free vs. uptight. It is a classic kind of setup and plays out maybe conventionally, but there is some great interpersonal development at work. While both characters can be a little grating, they seem realistic, and the performances are very good. They are on a Jewish heritage tour about the Holocaust with first class accommodations, which brings all kinds of contradictions and nuance. There are a lot of truths that play out, mostly unresolved, just observed. I was thinking I would give it a B, but maybe the two solid characters bring it up to a B+. Culkin turns in a great performance and is really more of a co-lead. Sometimes a big part mislabeled like that can help win Best Supporting Actor.
Written: 12 Mar 2025