Hey movie buffs Jesse Eisenberg is back in the awards conversation and it's not just for acting this time. You probably know him from films like The Social Network or Zombieland but Eisenberg has written and starred in a new movie called A Real Pain that is getting serious Oscar buzz. Let's dive into why everyone is talking about Jesse and this movie.
Oscar Nominee Jesse Eisenberg: From Red Carpet to Best Original Screenplay Contender
Jesse Eisenberg walked the Oscars red carpet recently but unlike in 2011 when he was nominated for Best Actor for The Social Network he is a contender this year for Best Original Screenplay. Pretty cool right? A Real Pain is the movie that has everyone talking about his writing skills. He not only stars in it but he also wrote and directed it.
The movie itself is about two cousins played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin you know Roman Roy from Succession. They take a trip to Poland to see their grandmother's homeland and visit Holocaust sites. Eisenberg has said he wanted to approach this topic in a super realistic way. He focused on telling the story of these two cousins and their complicated feelings about history and their own pain compared to their ancestors' suffering. He even filmed scenes at Majdanek concentration camp in a simple and stark way to keep it grounded.
'A Real Pain' Oscar Buzz: Kieran Culkin Steals Scenes and Awards Nods
It is not just Eisenberg getting Oscar love for A Real Pain. Kieran Culkin is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film. Critics are raving about Culkin's performance with some calling him "a force of nature". He is actually considered a frontrunner to win the Oscar this year in the Supporting Actor category. That would be amazing for both Jesse and Kieran!
Culkin has already been cleaning up during awards season winning Best Supporting Actor awards at the BAFTAs SAG Awards and Golden Globes for A Real Pain. Plus he is fresh off his Emmy and Golden Globe wins for playing Roman Roy in Succession. He is on a roll.
Where to Watch 'A Real Pain' Online: Streaming Options for the Oscar-Nominated Film
Want to check out what all the buzz is about? Good news A Real Pain is available to watch online. Here's a quick list of places where you can stream it :
- Hulu: You can stream it with a Hulu subscription. New subscribers can even get a 30-day free trial for the ad-supported plan. Hulu + Live TV also has it but no free trial for the no-ad plan.
- Disney+ Bundle: If you have the Disney+ Duo bundle that includes Hulu you can watch it there too.
- Digital Rental or Purchase: A Real Pain is also available to rent or buy on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV. Prime Video sometimes has it on sale.
So you have plenty of options to watch A Real Pain before or after the Oscars and see Jesse Eisenberg's Oscar-nominated screenplay and Kieran Culkin's acclaimed performance for yourself.
Jesse Eisenberg: Beyond Acting A Talented Writer and Director
While Jesse Eisenberg is known for his acting roles in movies like The Social Network Zombieland and Adventureland A Real Pain really shows off his skills behind the camera too. He wrote and directed the film and it is clear this project is personal to him. He even mentioned that the idea for the movie came from seeing an online ad for "Auschwitz Tours... With lunch". That strange and unsettling image sparked the whole story.
Eisenberg has been nominated for Oscars before for acting but this screenplay nomination is a different kind of recognition for his talent. It highlights his storytelling abilities and his vision as a filmmaker. It will be interesting to see if he takes home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay!
Why 'A Real Pain' is Worth Watching: Humor Heartbreak and a Unique Perspective
Hadley Freeman a writer for TheFP even suggested that if there was an Oscar for Best Scene it should go to Jesse Eisenberg for his outburst in A Real Pain. She highlights a powerful moment in the movie where Eisenberg's character questions how people can complain about their comfortable lives when considering the suffering of their ancestors. That scene and the movie overall seem to have a real emotional impact.
A Real Pain is described as a dramedy mixing humor with heavier themes of history family and identity. It is not just a straightforward Holocaust movie it is about how these two cousins grapple with their heritage and their own lives in the context of that history. It sounds like a film that will make you think feel and maybe even laugh a little along the way. Definitely worth adding to your watchlist especially now that it is awards season!