AFI Fest: Emotional Outbursts in “A Real Pain” and “Nightbitch”
Monday, October 28, 2024 at 9:11PM by Eurocheese
Festering emotions were front-and-center in these two strong films at the festival, though they were expressed in very different ways. Both screenplays played with tone, though Nightbitch’s swings didn’t always land as successfully as A Real Pain's. In each film, one charismatic performance will be the top takeaway for most viewers..
It wouldn’t be The Film Experience if blatant category fraud wasn’t called out early, so let’s get the elephant out of the room: There’s no way Kieran Culkin’s turn in A Real Pain should be considered a "supporting" performance. His rambling, sometimes charming, sometimes infuriating character steals every scene where he appears... which is almost all of them. Jesse Eisenberg’s muted co-lead performance allows for a couple of powerful monologues, but just like his character in the film, he is ultimately overshadowed by Culkin’s magnetic grandstanding. Make no mistake, though – this movie has two leads.
A REAL PAIN © Searchlight Pictures
As the two men struggle with the loss of their grandmother, their estranged relationship and their history in relationship to the tour (which is connecting to their Jewish roots while traveling through Poland), the film makes a point of calling out ideas of normality surrounding grief. While Culkin’s Benji is clearly struggling and doesn’t seem to be able to control his own actions from minute to minute, he inspires others with his attempts to find joy and seek authentic expression. Eisenberg’s David has seen this show before, though, and knows that it isn’t helping address what Benji really needs. David’s busy life kept him from giving Benji the attention that their relationship once had, and neither of them know how to get that dynamic back, though they are both trying.
One of the great pains of growing older is finding our cherished relationships, especially ones with those that live far away, change in ways we didn’t anticipate. While we may not have someone as troubled as Benji in our lives, our relationships are always evolving; it's easy to be caught off guard when life looks nothing like our expectations. Something else that comes with age is that people we held in high regard in our youth fall off their pedestals. Given the superhuman expectations we place on them, as adults we have to move past the initial reverence and inevitable disappointment to connect with the real person. The screenplay smartly evokes memories in such a way that audience members can read themselves into this dynamic. This personal relationship between two cousins (who are more like brothers) has enough truthful notes to bring authenticity, even when Benji is bouncing off the walls.
The original screenplay and Culkin's turn are the clearest shots at Oscar love this year. Will a character study like this have a chance at breaking into Best Picture this season? Awards aside, this is a film that will strike an emotional chord with many of its viewers. The backdrop of Holocaust remembrance carries additional significance given the state of the world right now.
NIGHTBITCH © Searchlight Pictures
Another clear-eyed look at family comes from Nightbitch, Marielle Heller’s new film starring the film’s producer, Amy Adams. In the first few minutes of the film, Nightbitch lets the audience know Adams’ character will not hold back when sharing her struggles in transitioning from her life as an artist to her current role as stay-at-home mom. Is she speaking to audience members or is she speaking to herself? It’s hard to know, but this window into her inner monologue helps to calibrate her interactions. Much like Culkin’s character in A Real Pain, she is compelling to watch precisely because she might well do anything at any given moment, often losing her ability to control herself. The audience can’t always tell how much of what they’re seeing is actually happening versus how much is living in the protagonist’s head.
Given the film's surreal premise, Nightbitch is more straightforward than you might expect. Some storylines, such as flashbacks to the protagonist's mother when she was a child or her decision to leave her career, aren’t fully explored. The movie does much better with the present: The appealing call of nature helps her evade her mundane life and the audience can understand why she would want to run wild to escape it, even if the movie stretches the metaphor.
The marriage at the center of the film feels true-to-life, though part of the plot is Scoot McNairy frustratingly not making enough effort to understand what is happening with his wife. His character is ultimately allowed to share his own views on how their relationship has developed, and the film does a nice job balancing his faults with his humanity. Even so, Adams’ journey is always the point of interest. In her Q&A after the screening, Adams spoke about the importance of highlighting the brutality of motherhood and mentioned the personal stories from audience members who felt seen by this story. It was clear when hearing the star speak that she is very proud of the film and felt strongly that this was a story she wanted to tell. Because she played her character with such serious intent, she revealed that it was a surprise to her that the tone in many scenes was so comedic; she chalks that up to Heller’s insightful direction.
Will this film finally bring Amy Adams her Oscar? I would lean towards a no, especially in such a competitive year for Best Actress, though she would absolutely be nomination-worthy. Ultimately Adams star turn outshines the whole, even though it's an engaging film that is likely to resonate with parents. One movie that came to mind as a comparison point based on theme is Jason Reitman’s Tully, which focused on a mother unable to maintain the energy level she needed to parent successfully. Adams’ mother is similarly struggling to find her voice, and if running wild with the neighborhood dogs at night is the way to find it, then so be it.
A Real Pain opens in theaters this Friday, Nov 1st. Nightbitch follows in a month on December 6th.
Reader Comments (8)
I am interested in Nightbitch as I do hope Amy Adams gets a comeback as she's had a rough few years in doing some really horrendous films.
I suspect Culkin's lead in supporting actor might be stolen by Washington or an overdue Edward Norton.
Amy's had rough few years project wise and this seems like another miss,I doubt she breaks into the top 5,if only they had given it to her for The Fighter or Arrival.
Amy Adams strikes me as a reluctant movie star who gets frazzled by the risky, up-down nature of Hollywood. She’d be great on a season of Fargo, I’d love to see her on stage. She’d be so funny on the next season of Palm Royale (which already has so many talented Oscar-level women in it).
She seems like someone who does it for the joy of acting but ends up in some pretty brutal misfires. TV and stage work would be kinder to her, and present a wider range of her gifts!
While I do personally think Nightbitch looks terrible and I have zero interest, I think everyone's being way too harsh on Amy Adams. Misfires are the nature of making art. Not everything will be great. She's doing her job and doing it well. I appreciate how down-to-earth she seems despite becoming one of the most famous actresses of her generation. I do wish that Janis Joplin biopic happened back in the day. I think she would've aced that, and that could've very well been her Oscar in an alternate universe.
I’ve seen Nightbitch and really liked it. Amusing, entertaining, original. One of my favourites of the year. And well directed by the always cleverly thoughtful Marielle Heller.
The adjective “polarizing” seems to be attached to it, but that’s kind of misleading. I think I read that the film team’s stance was “You either get it or you don’t, and that’s okay”. I agree. This isn’t a movie that’s trying to force you to agree with it.
The old actor’s warning is “Never act with kids or animals”. Why? It’s too hard, you’ll look stupid, it won’t work.
But Amy Adams can do it - - brilliantly.
Make no mistake. Amy Adams is delivering an acting master class here.
I kept thinking, that must really be Amy Adams’ kid (it’s not). The 3 year old would look Amy in the eyes, Amy would look back, and they would just click. That kid really loved her. Three year olds aren’t noted for “acting” so how did that happen?
Amy’s generosity, love, open-heartedness streamed from her as she looked at this other person, made a deep connection and was open to anything. That state of being in the moment, of Pure Play, is so rare. Acting students for decades have tried to achieve this state for a few minutes. Amy sustains it for a whole movie.
You may not be the target audience for this, and that’s okay. But Adams gives us a work of real artistic craft.
I was expecting "Nightbitch" as a psychological drama, the trailer sells it like a comedy.
I'm clueless, but I know Adams is brilliant. So, let's wait and see.
"A Real Pain" is one of the most anticipated films of the year for me, for a lot of reasons.
I have great expectations.
I can't wait to watch it.
And I thing it can do much better in other categories besides Culkin and the Screenplay.
Mr Ripley79,
Culkin is the clear frontrunner, he's a lock and you think his nomination "might be stolen"?
How and why?
@Fabio,I meant the win could be stolen not his nomination,that's a given
My reasoning is,he's a first time nominee,he's not owed in anyway and A Realpain may not get many nominations beyond him,Norton is way overdue and Washington is someone they've been dying to give a 3rd to for a bit.
I still expect Culkin to win though.
Mr Ripley79,
Completely agree, Norton is a genuis, like Fiennes.
Both criminally underrated.
I think Culkin's role and moment is stronger.
Washington? For me he could get a Razzies nom... 😃