User Reviews

This movie is great enough on its own, and funny in strange ways because of the dynamic between Eisenberg en Culkin. But seeing the demonstrations every week, as a European these days , the streets of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris , Berlin and especially the lost city of London ... this movie hit me much harder. The flying of Hamas flags and the hordes of fanatic muslims and the extreme left in Europe and their collective hatred of Jewish people, celebrating the brutal attacks on Israeli youth that started this new cycle ... it makes me fear as a European for Europe . And makes me almost grateful for a film like this also looking at unexpected light sides of all aspects of life and hate.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Difficult to review. I do sometimes enjoy "slow" movies, but there's not much here to enjoy besides Kieran's acting. No character development, nothing. Rating it higher than it deserves because it did make me think about the ending a little. Meh.

It is quite funny in parts and touching in parts, a pretty good entry into the dramedy category. I also really appreciated that it was only 90 minutes long. I miss when movies were a much more digestible length. Kieran Culkin's performance is excellent, he deserved the Oscar. However, I found his character absolutely insufferable. I understand that is the whole point of the movie, but that doesn't make it any more bearable to watch.

90 minutes of perfection. Soul, humor, beautifully shot scenes. And an Oscar worthy performance.

First of all I understand why the critics love it, since the pair of main actors deliver a great performance. HOWEVER, in terms of the level of entertainment, the movie does fall short. Yes, the script might be great (especially if you like long monologues) and it touches delicate subjects (like suicide and the holocaust) in a sensitive way. BUT it's still a very "bland" movie: the story is very horizontal; no climax and scarce funny moments. Overall, a very forgettable movie.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Jesse Eisenberg has created a role that suits him perfectly and directed a film that embodies his distinct personal style—light yet restrained, blending humour and melancholy, and thought-provoking.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Bajo su diversión y las risas oculta el dolor. Nos confronta a su vez entre los dolores del presente y los del pasado.

In 'A RealPain,' actor turned director/writer Jesse Eisenberg unfolds a treatise on depression and anguish through the story of two Jewish cousins ​​who travel to Poland to visit a concentration camp and connect with their roots. Appealing to identity, generational trauma, and how complicated family ties can be, Eisenberg achieves a work that is small in scale, but of significant emotional reach. Kieran Culkin delivers a career-best performance with the help of Eisenberg, who writes and directs this channeling his interior Noah Baumbach or Alexander Payne. A funny yet profound exploration of pain presented as a road trip buddy comedy.

Hilarious and heartfelt. Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin play off of each other in such a comical way.

Eisenberg's latest is an artistic masterpiece. From story, to acting, to character portrayals, to explorations of self, grief, and family relationships, "A Real Pain" is a must-watch. I was hesitant when I first heard about it because it deals with grief, but I was so very pleasantly surprised at the hefty amount of comedy carrying this story. Kieran Culkin is an outstanding source of tenderness, emotion, levity, and freedom, and the chemistry he shares with Eisenberg on screen is palpable. This is one indie drama you don't want to miss, Regardless of who's in it or how good it is (it's excellent), everyone walks away from this viewing experience a little more enlightened.

Earnest, compelling and soul touching. It stays so focused on the main characters and their relatable issues few movies does today.

Excessivamente cansativo e um pouco chato que ate pode tira uma ou outra risada, mas acaba sendo bem esquecivel

We need to take the time to care about each other in our spaces and hearts. What are the origins of our pains? The film “A Real Pain” desperately tries to solve them but comes up short. The film currently in theaters and on Hulu written directed and starring Jesse Eisenberg alongside Kieran Culkin who play two cousins on a Jewish heritage tour through Poland is a compellingly earnest look at what defines the human character and how our interactions affect us. The scope and effort here, together with ultra realistic heartfelt performances, especially from Culkin who embodies his annoyingly emotionally needy character with a profound intensity that truly pierces into your psyche becoming an emotional terrorist pinning away at norms and introspection with grand aplomb. The seemingly unfinished script is worth the price of admission and makes this film a must see despite its adequate, albeit, pedestrian direction and weak cinematography, but the main dilemma in the end is left, unresolved. I truly feel for all the characters in the film. The tour group and the two main characters come together and exchange extremely important takes on how to interpret and examine meaningful interaction. It is an Oscar worthy portrayal of our reality as social creatures dependent on each other to understand social constructs and it does lay important groundwork for communal resolutions, but the main supporting actor is left quite literally staring at the randomness of life’s mundane stage albeit at a place of reflection and good intent. Much like gangster rap that’s missing one line to be helpfully cathartic so to does this film leave us on the edge. Of course this was Eisenberg’s intent, like the majority of his work as an actor, he loves to react humbly leaving actions to our superfluous emotions to work out much. There is a great charm in this. His vulnerability is admirable and his honesty likeable and we do see his characters resolve issues but more so for comedic affect and existentialist drama. I think therefore I am but that’s not how I can change. One can see and appreciate the extreme realism here but damn it man, give me one line telling me he will be ok. Tell me one thing I need to know to change and grow or reach a place where I can feel something divine, not just an extra-long hug, symbolizing loss or a view of Poland that looks like Paterson New Jersey looking west.

Alguns filmes encontram seu verdadeiro brilho na atuação de um intérprete que eleva toda a narrativa, tornando-a mais cativante e impactante. A Verdadeira Dor, dirigido e roteirizado por Jesse Eisenberg, é um desses casos. Embora o filme conte com um roteiro sensível e bem estruturado, são as camadas trazidas por Kieran Culkin que fazem desta obra um forte concorrente nas principais premiações do cinema. Desde sua estreia, o ator tem conquistado praticamente todos os prêmios da crítica e das grandes premiações, tornando-se o grande favorito ao Oscar de Melhor Ator Coadjuvante.O longa aborda temas profundos como laços familiares, busca por identidade e, sobretudo, a pós-memória — conceito que define como os traumas históricos podem afetar gerações subsequentes. Ainda que os personagens centrais não tenham vivenciado diretamente o Holocausto, eles carregam as cicatrizes deixadas por um dos eventos mais brutais da história. No entanto, ao invés de apostar em um tom pesado e melodramático, Eisenberg escolhe um caminho mais leve, misturando humor e emoção para construir uma dramédia acessível e envolvente.Essa abordagem faz com que A Verdadeira Dor se torne uma experiência singular. Eisenberg, que já demonstrou talento para criar narrativas introspectivas e repletas de diálogos afiados, acerta ao balancear momentos reflexivos com pitadas de comédia. Há cenas contemplativas e carregadas de significado, mas nunca de forma sufocante. O tom do filme permite que o espectador se conecte com a história sem sentir um peso emocional excessivo, tornando a experiência tão agradável quanto reflexiva.O grande destaque, no entanto, é Kieran Culkin. O ator, que já havia demonstrado um domínio impressionante na transição entre humor e drama em Succession, entrega aqui uma performance que mescla ironia, espontaneidade e uma camada emocional inesperada. Seu personagem exala uma energia inquieta e sarcástica, mas, ao mesmo tempo, transmite uma vulnerabilidade que se torna ainda mais marcante nos momentos de maior introspecção. A dinâmica entre Culkin e Eisenberg também merece elogios, com os dois estabelecendo uma relação que reflete perfeitamente o contraste entre seus personagens. Enquanto Eisenberg traz sua característica atuação meticulosa, sempre controlada e repleta de diálogos rápidos, Culkin se sobressai com um estilo mais solto e imprevisível, criando um equilíbrio cativante entre os dois.A escolha de Eisenberg em manter a narrativa mais leve pode gerar algumas divergências. Há quem argumente que o filme poderia ter explorado mais o peso dramático da história, mas essa decisão se mostra acertada dentro da proposta da obra. Em momentos mais sérios, há tentativas de inserir monólogos mais carregados emocionalmente, que por vezes quebram um pouco o ritmo do filme. No entanto, o humor serve como um **** necessário, impedindo que a narrativa se torne excessivamente densa.Quando a carga dramática surge, o impacto é ainda maior justamente por conta dessa leveza predominante. Culkin, que passa grande parte do filme com seu tom sarcástico e despreocupado, entrega algumas das cenas mais comoventes quando precisa abandonar essa máscara e encarar a profundidade do tema central. Esse contraste é essencial para a força da narrativa, tornando sua performance ainda mais **** fim das contas, A Verdadeira Dor se revela um filme reconfortante e autêntico, conduzido com sensibilidade por Jesse Eisenberg e elevado a outro nível pela performance brilhante de Kieran Culkin. A combinação entre um roteiro bem escrito e atuações inspiradas torna a obra um dos destaques da temporada, especialmente no que diz respeito à categoria de Melhor Ator Coadjuvante, onde Culkin já desponta como o grande favorito. Com mensagens poderosas sobre luto, memória e conexões familiares, A Verdadeira Dor é uma dramédia envolvente que emociona e diverte na medida certa, provando que, muitas vezes, as histórias mais impactantes são aquelas que encontram equilíbrio entre o riso e a emoção.

Jesse Eisenberg não toma pra si o protagonismo, e filma com muita elegância e simplicidade, parece até que os trabalhos com Allen lhe renderem um bom estágio na arte de dirigir e de atuar com olhar meio perdido, deslocado. Com isso, sobra para o Kieran Culkin ter as gags mais interessantes do longa, que conta a história de dois irmãos indo visitar a Polônia, local onde sua falecida avó residia, tendo que lidar com os horrores do holocausto, campos de concentração e ruas cheias de história, transformadas em pontos turísticos frios. Por mais expositivos que sejam os sentimentos dos protagonistas, decifrando tudo para o espectador, há aqui uma construção de personagens que foge ao maniqueísmo unilateral, tornando tudo muito delicioso de assistir. E a dor não precisou de algo mirabolante para ser sentida. Filme muito sensível.

Only a deeply flawed person would give this film a 0. It's a solid 9. The kind of film you would recommend, and revisit down the line.

It's a real pain indeed. Good performances an understated film, which I liked. The characters seemed like spoilt babies, and weren't actually that likeable and for a comedy it got one audible laugh from my viewing - it felt a touch propagandist in the timing of its release. I was disappointed and slightly annoyed at the praise the film got as I felt genuinely let down. THE HOLDOVERS has simialr vibes but is much the superior film.

People crying about language & uncomfortable scenes? What kind of bubble you people live in? lmao. Anyway, the point of this movie is to make you uncomfortable just like life tends to be & for emotions to feel real, which they do, & someone trying to deal with a loss & moving on from a failed suicide attempt. It's some very heavy stuff even if some of the scenes come off as ridiculous.

This film is the WORST film in decades. Some people left the cinema after just 15 minutes - we were stupid enough to believe that the film somehow concealed a bigger story, but that wasn't the case. 1.5 hours of watching two random guys fly, take a train, sleep in a hotel and look at two monuments has nothing to do with art, history, drama or comedy. A pointless waste of time. Who gives the OK to such nonsense??! That person should be sued

Two estranged cousins go on a trip to honor the memory of their deceased grandmother. One is nebbish and the other is outgoing and bipolar. There's lots of talking in scenes that feel somewhat staged. That's pretty much it.

Mediocre smarmy propoganda that from the beginning just doesnt land, no idea why so many awards... hmm

A Real Pain is one of the best, most emotional, and deeply resonant road trip movies i've ever watch, Kieran Culkin performance stands out as one of the most natural and captivating i've seen, so natural and immersive that it almost felt like he could afford to dial it back a bit, yet, his portrayal is absolutely incredible, and so do the rest of the cast, the inclusion of the Holocaust theme adds a layer of historical depth and emotional intensity, enriching the films darker tones, at just 90 minutes, the film masterfully explores themes of family relationships, personal pain, human connection, and historical reflection, again fills with these engaging characters and great performance, also Jesse Eisenberg deserves immense credit, not only for crafting this brilliant story but also for directing it with such skill and sensitivity, overall, A Real Pain is a must-watch, an entertaining, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant film that lingers with you long after it ends.

After all the raves, I was expecting more. The performances were perfect, a near guarantee given the two actors that Eisenberg wrote it for, including himself. But is it asking too much to know a little more about their grandmother? A fleeting memory flashback could've been so poignant, Or even a photograph or two? I really wanted to see her, or, minimally, hear her voice ..... And despite the well-conceived and well-written depiction of these two men, I wish it had gone even deeper, e.g., dwelling longer on what Benji's grief over their grandmother's death eventually led him to do. And what this trip means for his and David's relationship going forward; as it stands, we're missing an arc, a payoff. Is this what we watched an entire movie for? One other quibble: Did we really have to listen to Chopin's piano music for the entire film? Yes, it's appropriate. But even if you like it (not everyone does), after a while it grates. I turned the sound on & off for most of the film, because it was giving me a headache.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

I knew this film would be right up my street. If you’re a fan of Kieran Culkin in Succession then you will be satisfied with his character in this. Jesse Eisenberg has definitely come on since I first came across him in Arrested Development. Must confess I totally missed the fact that Jennifer Grey also starred. My memory of her is still based on her roles in Dirty Dancing & the fabulous Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. This film had many laugh out loud moments due to the clever writing and acting. There were also some more tender moments. I hope that this does find an audience at the cinema although I suspect it will be mostly seen once it streams.

Two Cousins, David and Benji Kaplan decide to honor their late Jewish Grandma Dori by going to Poland to see where she once lived. Which seems like a great idea for family to do as they were close when they was younger. But which often occurs in family to people as they get older and drift apart. This film does a great job showing this. This film stars. Jesse **** also directed,produced, and help write it as well. Eisenberg **** cousin named David, the now married, responsible, hard working family man. Kieran Culkin plays the other cousin Benji, the complete opposite of his cousin David. This film is filled with emotion not only between the two cousins but the journey through Poland as well. The performances of both Eisenberg and Culkin are tremendous which deserve recognition. The rest of the cast is solid. The beauty and sadness of Poland is on display as well. This film is well worth watching for these talented young actors.

A good directorial debut where the actors are put firmly in their comfort zone for the most part. The resolution needed a little more weight for me to fully bring it home.

A film with a lot of heart on its sleeves. Some funny moments but more along the lines of a serious drama. I enjoyed it overall and it's worthy of giving a try.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Excellent. Great character development and dialogue and knows when to be quiet.

‘A Real Pain’ is elegant, honest, frequently hilarious, sometimes cringe inducing, and—frustratingly—a little too loose in its resolution.

As of today--11/24/24--A Real Pain has the best chance so far this year as being MY #1 movie of 2024. Comedies are hard to pull off, so a dramedy like A Real Pain was the right choice. As much as I enjoyed Kieren Culkins' Benjy-tour de-force performance, it's Jesse Eisenbergs chararacter, David that is the real heart & soul of the movie who keeps the story grounded. We've all been around "Benjy's" who can walk into any room, and take over But there are a lot more David's who have to deal with Benji's shrapnel. I laughed and I cried. Beautiful, heartfelt movie.

Quite solid production and good start in directional way for Jesse Eisenberg! A Real Pain is an emotional story undercover of road trip story to Poland. About what is that? I would say - appearances and how they can be deceptive. Under the skin of happy, eccentric and the soul of the party men is someone else and analogically under some serious, quiet and - for a first look - well-organized men is someone. Tour through the Poland renovates relationships between two characters but also during that process there is a lot of emotional tension in the air. Kieran Culkin’s character is written really great. He has traumatic experiences and fresh conflict in his soul. Adding to his acting performance of Culkin, we’ve got really great character. About Dave we don’t have much to say because he’s quite simple man played by Eisenberg who is good in this type of role. The biggest problem is form - 90 minutes is quite little but it’s getting unnaturally long because of boring and not needed scenes. Making from it a short film would be better for telling this story despite full length film with some useless themes. So Jesse gives us a very good 1h30mins of reflections about relationships and problems in family.

This touching and wholesome little buddy trip of a film follows two cousins (Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) who fly out to Warsaw, Poland in order to experience/explore their Jewish heritage by visiting the concentration camps and other sights while also remembering their Jewish grandmother who has recently passed. Eisenberg also writes and directs this tender and often heartfelt film, with his witty screenplay winning the top writing award at Sundance earlier this year. Him and Culkin manage to strike up an instantly believable and humorous chemistry with one another through the dialogue, with both giving sincere and often funny performances throughout. Though the film does travel at a leisurely pace, it does a remarkable job of balancing sensitive subject matter with the rest of the lighthearted tone of the film. Overall, brilliant writing, directing, humor and performances from Eisenberg and Culkin make this one an enjoyable and wholesome watch.

Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin play close cousins who are far apart in their personalities. Actually, both actors don't stray far from their usual type. Eisenberg continues the hesitant neurotic that he embodies so well, while Culkin is ramping up his performance from Succession to be even more obnoxious and not as funny. Their continual conflicts are what drive the film, although there is a narrative: They're visiting Poland to honor their dead grandmother. This allows writer/director Eisenberg to host a mini-tour of the country and introduce issues like family tensions and generational trauma. Even with Culkin's extreme behavior, the film manages to have moments of tenderness. While much of it tries to be funny, the comedy is more of the cringe variety, something Eisenberg is comfortable with. This is basically a buddy road movie with verbal sparring, continual mild conflict and a little bit of heart. Interesting note: The boy who plays Eisenberg's son on the phone is his real son.

That’s the way Jesse Eisenberg gets by making fantastic movies. This movie was absolutely hilarious. The performances were excellent, especially from Kieran Cullen, who delivers an Oscar-worthy performance, and Jesse Eisenberg was also great. This movie is extremely well-written, with exceptional dialogue throughout the film. It was also extraordinarily directed, with some beautiful shots and great cinematography. The themes of this movie were very complex and emotional, and oftentimes very heartfelt and heartbreaking. To conclude, this was a fantastic movie and one of my favorites of the year. I highly recommend all of you watch this phenomenal movie.

To see the previews you'd think this was a laugh out loud comedy. In reality it's about 2 distant and flawed cousins who were bequethed funds by their deceased grandmother to visit her home in Poland. Written and filmed well, it shows us areas of Poland tourists might not see. I didn't grasp the greatness that many critics saw. Mostly it tries to portray two messed up cousins attempting to reconcile from the beginning scene to the last scene and inbetween the inhumanity of the **** occupation. "Schindler's List" this is not. Short and enjoyable and I believe you"d mildly enjoy it.

Finding ourselves, particularly the process of finding what we’ve lost about ourselves, can be an eye-opening, enlightening but sometimes-painful ordeal, especially if we’re unclear about where to look. For many of us, though, this is a challenge we often attempt to resolve by examining our past, specifically that of our family and its legacy, in hopes that it provides the answers we seek. Such is the quest embarked upon by two once-close cousins, David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), who journey to Poland on an intimate heritage tour to visit the homestead of their beloved deceased grandmother, a Holocaust survivor who made her way to America after World War II. While David and Benji were at one time as thick as thieves, they’ve drifted apart over time, each becoming significantly different from one another, but they hope to reestablish their longstanding connection through this intensely personal pilgrimage. As their odyssey unfolds, though, they come face to face with the changes that have arisen both in their relationship and in their understandings of themselves, from life goals to their cultural background as the descendants of Polish Jews to how they fundamentally relate to the world. It’s an often-difficult process for these earnest seekers, especially in light of their discovery that, if they truly wish to better understand themselves, they can only go so far in looking outward, instead needing to look inward for guidance and meaningful insight. And its aptly selected title is an ably suitable metaphor on multiple levels, not only in describing Benji’s often-manic, irrational and unpredictable behavior, but also in characterizing the anguish that he and David undergo in making their way through this emotional minefield. This second feature effort from actor-writer-director Eisenberg is indeed an impressive offering, even if its road trip/buddy movie script could use some periodic tweaking in terms of focus and its balance between comedy and drama. More significantly, however, this is a breakout performance for Culkin, who shows just how adept he can be with the right material, an award-worthy portrayal, to be sure. Add to this the film’s gorgeous cinematography of Polish landmarks and the country’s landscapes, as well as its fittingly appropriate Frédéric Chopin soundtrack, and you’ve got a profoundly thoughtful release, one that should give anyone in the cousins’ shoes pause for reflection, something from which we can all benefit from time to time, no matter what we’re ultimately looking for.

A Real Pain is a real gem, thoughtful and lyrical, about pain of course, the two sides of the double-entendre: the irritating whine of an obnoxious brat or the drone of a bore channeling someone else’s pain on the one hand and, on the other, the pain of ‘life is pain’ and the channeled pain. The oil and water are held apart and mixed perfectly throughout.

What a beautifully written and performed film this is. It's incredibly funny, but underpinned by a darkness - hence the title - that is really moving and poignant. There isn't a minute wasted in a script that's as tight as a nut. A real special film.

Well marco, it is not a comedy, because its a mix of comedy and drama. Did you know that a movie can combine several genres? We have there many moments for a laugh and also for a tear to drop. So it is definitely comedy and a drama.

Foltks -- this movie is NOT a comedy. It's primarily a very "angst-driven" film that was more annoying and frustrating to me than enjoyable. With that said, it certainly is decent for what it is. It's about twoJewish cousins who go on a trip to Poland to visit the house their grandmother lived in as a child. Along the way, the go to a concentration camp and tour it. The performances are good. Again, it aint a comedy.

Beautifully written and brilliantly performed, this simple and effective roadtrip buddy dramedy is equally hilarious and heartfelt. Selecting Chopin (Polish!) as the sole soundtrack elevates this little gem as well. How much external expression one should attempt to not lose connection with the world, and how much internal processing one must endure to stay functioning in this cruel world? Why do we love and admire some family members yet at the same time almost intentionally detach from the family? I miss my cousin after watching this. Born 3 years apart I used to spend every summer with her as teens. Then I moved overseas and never came back. She settled down and got married. I’ve only met her baby once…maybe I should have tried harder. Maybe I’ll call her today.