A Different Man
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (Out of 5)
Edward (Sebastian Stan) is an aspiring actor relying on niche roles that lean into his facial shape caused by neurofibromatosis. When Ingrid (Renate Reinsve), an aspiring playwright, moves in next door, his infatuation with her leads him to seek radical medical intervention. After a Cronenberg-esque transformation, a new, hunky-looking Edward starts anew – with the old Edward now apparently gone. Years on, Ingrid unknowingly casts Edward in an off-Broadway play inspired by her ‘late neighbour’, leading to unexpected consequences.
A Different Man is a brilliant psychological drama that’s almost caustically funny. It examines an insecure actor who finds a miracle cure for his facial disfigurement, only to be usurped by a charismatic man who shares his exact condition. Aaron Schimberg’s surreal spin on The Elephant Man will shock and surprise as it probes superficiality with wit and deadpan humour. Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and a scene-stealing Adam Pearson all give absolutely fantastic performances in a film that avoids exploitation and instead delivers an excellent examination of aesthetics and identity. It carefully avoids feeling exploitative, cruel or mean, and instead uses humour and dark irony to help palate the spiral of tragedy faced by Sebastian Stan’s Edward.
Stan is absolutely fantastic, first when caked under insanely impressive prosthetics, and then as the prosthetics peel off and he’s left as a new man with the same insecurities. Watching him slowly realise that the cure to his condition has actually left him worse off, leads to so many ironic and depressingly funny moments. These moments are livened by the charisma of Adam Pearson, who swoops in to take all the trophies and wins that should go to Edward, if only his face were still disfigured. Completing the trio is Renate Reinsve, in an English-language role as a playwright and lover, whose comedic timing helps perfect the film's tone. The film impressively pulls off its simple high concept sci-fi premise and remains grounded despite its meta-narrative moments and surrealist themes as things steadily unwind into madness. Incredibly well-acted, written, directed, paced and with fantastic makeup prosthetics, A Different Man is one of the strongest, albeit strangest, films of 2024.
Reel Dialogue: The danger of envy
A Different Man is a film that wrestles deeply with identity, insecurity and envy. Edward’s initial desire is to be healed of his neurofibromatosis, which causes facial disfigurement, so that he can be attractive, envying the men who visit his neighbour, Ingrid. Then Edward ironically slowly grows envious of Oswald, who has neurofibromatosis, when he begins to live out Edward’s dream of being an actor and lover of Ingrid. Envy is a dangerous emotion and is usually connected to vanity and insecurity. We need to be careful to not focus or judge ourselves by our outside appearance. It is our inner self that genuinely matters. Oswald’s confidence comes not from without but within. Christians are at risk of envying the world and the false hopes it promises. We must be careful not to fall for outward appearances but look at the heart instead.
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:26
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