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A Different Man

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A Different Man
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAaron Schimberg
Written byAaron Schimberg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWyatt Garfield
Edited byTaylor Levy
Music byUmberto Smerilli
Production
companies
Distributed byA24
Release dates
  • January 21, 2024 (2024-01-21) (Sundance)
  • September 20, 2024 (2024-09-20) (United States)
Running time
112 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.2 million[3][4]

A Different Man is a 2024 American black comedy psychological thriller film[5][6][7] written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson.

The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024, and was screened at the main competition of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, where Stan won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance.[8] It was released theatrically in the United States by A24 on September 20, 2024, and received mostly positive reviews from critics. At the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, Stan was nominated for the Best Performance by a Male Actor – Musical or Comedy category.[9]

Plot

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Edward Lemuel is a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis that manifests as a disfiguring facial condition. He befriends his new neighbor Ingrid Vold, an aspiring playwright, but is too nervous to act on his romantic feelings towards her. After receiving an experimental medical treatment that cures him of his condition, he assumes the identity of "Guy Moratz" and claims that Edward has killed himself.

Some time later, "Guy" is now a wealthy and successful real estate agent. One day, he discovers that Ingrid is producing Edward, an off-Broadway play that she has written based on his life; he auditions and is cast in the lead role. Edward and Ingrid begin a sexual relationship soon thereafter, though Ingrid remains unaware of the truth of his identity. During rehearsals, they are visited by Oswald, a man with neurofibromatosis who has taken an interest in the play. The confident and charismatic Oswald quickly befriends the cast and crew, although Edward is perturbed by his outgoing demeanor.

Ingrid and Oswald grow closer, and after Edward is unable to memorize his lines, she decides to recast Oswald in the lead role. The play is a success, and Oswald's performance receives rave reviews. Edward's mental state begins to deteriorate: he begins stalking Oswald, is fired from his real estate job, and eventually storms the stage of the play one night to physically attack Oswald. During the scuffle, part of the set falls on Edward, breaking his legs and arms. While he recovers from his injuries, he moves back into his former apartment next to Ingrid, who is now living with Oswald and making plans to adapt Edward into a film. One day, after Edward's physical therapist expresses disgust for Oswald behind his back, Edward stabs him and is jailed.

Years later, an aged Edward once again encounters Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid, now a married and highly successful creative duo who are planning their retirement to a commune in Canada. A waiter arrives to take their orders, but a visibly nervous Edward struggles to choose from the menu. Oswald jokes that Edward has not changed a bit.

Cast

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Production

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A Different Man was announced in June 2022, with Aaron Schimberg set as writer and director. Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson were also announced as the leads, with Christine Vachon, Gabriel Mayers and Vanessa McDonnell set as producers.[1]

Principal photography began in July 2022 and shot over 22 days in New York City, primarily in the East Village, the Upper West Side, and parts of Brooklyn.[10][11]

Release

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A Different Man premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024.[12] It also screened in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024.[13] It also screened at New Directors/New Films Festival on April 3, 2024.[14] It was released in the United States on September 20, 2024,[15] and in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2024.[2] The film has been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.[16]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 149 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Surreal and unsettling, A Different Man overcomes an occasionally tenuous narrative grasp by virtue of its bold, provocative approach to serious themes."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]

The film was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review,[19] and ranked 21 on the Sight & Sound Best 50 Movies of 2024.[20]

Accolades

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The film was selected in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, thus it was nominated to compete for the Golden Bear award.

Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 4, 2024 Directors to Watch Aaron Schimberg Won [21]
Berlin International Film Festival February 25, 2024 Golden Bear Nominated [22]
Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance Sebastian Stan Won [8]
Sitges Film Festival October 13, 2024 Best Feature Film A Different Man Nominated [23][24]
Best Screenplay Aaron Schimberg Won
Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2024 Maverick Award Sebastian Stan Won [25]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Best Feature Aaron Schimberg, Gabriel Mayers, Vanessa McDonnell and Christine Vachon Won [26][27]
Outstanding Supporting Performance Adam Pearson Nominated
National Board of Review December 4, 2024 Top Ten Independent Films A Different Man Won [28]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association December 8, 2024 Best Supporting Performance Adam Pearson Runner-up[a] [29]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 11, 2024 Best Supporting Actor Nominated [30]
New York Film Critics Online December 16, 2024 Best Actor Sebastian Stan Nominated [31]
Dublin Film Critics' Circle December 19, 2024 Best Actor 3rd place [32]
Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2025 Best Performance by a Male Actor – Musical or Comedy Pending [9]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 12, 2025 Best Hair and Make-Up Mike Marino, Sarah Graalman and Aaron Saucier Pending [33]
Casting Society of America February 12, 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent (Comedy) Maribeth Fox and Kimberly Ostroy Pending [34]
Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild February 15, 2025 Best Special Make-Up Effects Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal Junado Pending [35]
Independent Spirit Awards February 22, 2025 Best Supporting Performance Adam Pearson Pending [36]
Best Screenplay Aaron Schimberg Pending

See also

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Films also starring Pearson:

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (June 21, 2022). "Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve & Adam Pearson To Star In 'A Different Man' For A24". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "A Different Man (15)". British Board of Film Classification. July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "A Different Man". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "A Different Man". The Numbers. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Grobar, Matt (July 16, 2024). "Sebastian Stan Transforms Into 'A Different Man' In First Trailer For A24's Psychological Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  6. ^ King, Jordan (July 16, 2024). "A Different Man Trailer: Sebastian Stan Makes A Radical Transformation In A24 Psychological Thriller". Empire. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Kuznikov, Selena (July 16, 2024). "'A Different Man' Trailer: Sebastian Stan Unravels After a Life-Changing Facial Procedure in A24's Dark Comedy". Variety. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Ntim, Zac (February 24, 2024). "Berlin Film Festival: Mati Diop Wins Golden Bear With Documentary 'Dahomey,' Emily Watson And Sebastian Stan Take Acting Honors". Deadline. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Donnelly, Matt; Moreau, Jordan (December 9, 2024). "Golden Globes 2025 Nominations: 'Emilia Perez' Dominates Films With 10 Nods; 'The Bear' Leads TV With Five". Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Sharf, Zack (July 27, 2022). "Sebastian Stan Is Unrecognizable in First Look at A24's 'A Different Man,' Stuns Fans With Prosthetics Transformation". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "A Different Man Press Notes" (PDF). A24 Press. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  12. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Ntim, Zac (January 22, 2024). "Berlin Reveals 2024 Competition Lineup: Rooney Mara, Mati Diop, Isabelle Huppert, Abderrahmane Sissako Movies Among Selection". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (February 29, 2024). "'A Different Man' Makes New York City Premiere at New Directors/New Films 2024: See the Full Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  15. ^ D’Alessandro, Anthony (May 30, 2024). "A24 Dates Fall & Holiday Slate With 'The Front Room', 'A Different Man', 'We Live In Time', 'Heretic' & 'Baby Girl'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  16. ^ Deb, Deepshikha (September 30, 2024). "MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup". High On Films. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "A Different Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 5, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ^ "A Different Man". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Top 10 Independent Films Archives". National Board of Review. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  20. ^ The 50 best films of 2024|Sight & Sound
  21. ^ Vary, Peter Debruge,Murtada Elfadl,Todd Gilchrist,Gregg Goldstein,Paula Hendrickson,Courtney Howard,Angelique Jackson,Brent Simon,Adam B.; Debruge, Peter; Elfadl, Murtada; Gilchrist, Todd; Goldstein, Gregg; Hendrickson, Paula; Howard, Courtney; Jackson, Angelique; Simon, Brent (January 4, 2024). "Variety's 10 Directors to Watch for 2024: Blitz Bazawule, Cord Jefferson and Anna Kendrick Among Noteworthy Helmers". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Rosser, Michael (January 22, 2024). "Berlin film festival reveals 2024 competition line-up". ScreenDaily. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  23. ^ Romero, Miguel Ángel (September 10, 2024). "Sitges 2024 anuncia su programación definitiva: las mejores películas de terror que podremos ver este año". Cinemanía (in Spanish). Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  24. ^ "57th Edition Award Winners | Sitges Film Festival". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "AwardsWatch - 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees Include Steve McQueen, Karla Sofía Gascón and Sebastian Stan". AwardsWatch. September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  26. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (October 29, 2024). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'Anora' Leads Pack, 'Challengers' & 'Nickel Boys' Among Group Up For Best Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  27. ^ Goldsmith, Jill; Hipes, Patrick (December 2, 2024). "Gotham Awards: A24's 'A Different Man' Wins Best Feature; 'Sing Sing', 'Nickel Boys' Also Score – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Lewis, Hilary (December 4, 2024). "'Wicked' Named Best Film of 2024 by the National Board of Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  29. ^ Richlin, Harrison (December 8, 2024). "'Anora' Wins Best Picture from Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  30. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 11, 2024). "The 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  31. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 16, 2024). "The 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  32. ^ Clarke, Donald (December 19, 2024). "Dublin Film Critics Circle awards 2024: The Zone of Interest and Kneecap big winners". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  33. ^ Evans, Greg (December 12, 2024). "Conclave And Wicked Lead Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  34. ^ Rice, Lynette (December 17, 2024). "'Wicked' & 'Gladiator II' Among Film Nominees For 40th Annual Artios Awards; Casting Nods Also Go To 'Saturday Night' & 'Moana 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  35. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 10, 2024). "Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Nominations: 'Wicked', 'Deadpool & Wolverine', 'Emilia Pérez' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  36. ^ Schwartz, Missy; Pond, Steve (December 4, 2024). "'Anora,' 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead 2025 Indie Spirit Awards Nominations". The Wrap. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
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