Director: Aaron Schimberg
Cast: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson
Screenplay: Aaron Schimberg
112 mins. Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, language and some violent content.

A Different Man, the new film from writer/director Aaron Schimberg (Chained for Life), is a hard film to describe. In the months leading up to its release, I recall hearing variations on the plot and wondering how, if at all, Schimberg would be able to pull this satirical dark comedy off. Turns out, he more than capably handles this quirky little film, aided by some strong and daring performances.

Edward (Sebastian Stan, Black Swan) is an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis who craves a “normal” life and the opportunity to perform in roles not defined by his condition. When he undergoes a radical new treatment to reverse the effects of the condition, he becomes obsessed with fellow actor Oswald (Adam Pearson, Under the Skin), a successful actor who also has neurofibromatosis but isn’t caught up with changing who he is.

Sebastian Stan is the winning ingredient here. His commitment to the Edward and all his character flaws makes for one of the most dynamic performances of the year. Seeing how he plays Edward under all the makeup juxtaposed with the emotional and physical transformations he undergoes throughout the narrative is astounding, especially when paired with the always wonderful Renate Reinsve (The Worst Person in the World) as playwright Ingrid and Pearson’s Oswald.

Schimberg’s screenplay is biting with the proper amount of satirical edge. His story allows characters like Edward to become complete assholes and still be entertaining to watch, if only to witness the unraveling. While he certainly makes a few leaps at the end that I didn’t find to be as satisfying, he’s certainly swinging for the fences, and most of it works.

What I appreciate about Aaron Schimberg as a writer/director is how he uses comedy to showcase a number of incredibly dark themes like depression, anxiety, and obsession, and self-perception. The closest comparison I can think of is how Mel Brooks uses harsh language and dark comedy to direct the focus of his narrative on the darkest elements of society. The film pities Edward as someone so uncertain, so unhappy with his situation that he makes changes and then hates the man he becomes even more.

A Different Man is a revelatory piece of satire with an incredible awards-worthy performance from its lead uplifted by some terrific supporting turns as well. While I don’t think the climax is as strong as everything that comes before it, it’s still worth checking out as soon as you are able.

3.5/5
-Kyle A. Goethe