David Kaplan: Yeah
Story
Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface amidst their family history. When Benji and David visit their grandmother’s home in Poland, the place is where Jesse Eisenberg’s real-life ancestors settled in the diaspora. Benji Kaplan: We stay moving, we stay light, we stay agile. Benji Kaplan: The conductor comes by, gets the tickets, we tell him we’re going to the bathroom. David Kaplan: The bathroom. Benji Kaplan: He gets to the back of the train, he starts moving toward the front looking for stragglers. David Kaplan: Sorry, are we the stragglers?
Benji Kaplan: Yeah
By the time he gets to the front, the train will be in the station and we’ll be free. David Kaplan: That’s so stupid. Tickets are probably twelve dollars. Benji Kaplan: That’s the principle of the thing. We shouldn’t have to pay for train tickets in Poland. It’s our country. David Kaplan: No, we don’t, it was our country.
Featured on CBS News Sunday Morning: Episode #4644 (2024)
They kicked us out because they thought we were cheap. 12 Etudes, Op. 25, No. 3 in F Major Written by Frédéric Chopin Performed by Tzvi Erez. I think the only reason I went to see this movie was because of Kieran Culkin. What can I say, I love Succession. And I certainly got more than I originally expected.
Both actors do a great job, especially Culkin
It’s clear that this movie was written from the heart, and Jesse Eisenberg’s script is certainly solid, with great dialogue and constantly different takes on the phrase “A Real Pain.” Benji and David have very compelling arcs and the rest of the characters, while not three-dimensional, get plenty of time to shine, especially James. As for the directing, Jesse Eisenberg does a good job for his directorial debut. The film is well shot and while there isn’t a lot of variety, the film evokes a simple yet realistic tone. Eisenberg deals with some strong subject matter and I think he does it well. I’m impressed with some of the things he was able to film on location, which makes some of the emotions even stronger. But of course, the strongest aspect of this film is the performances and dynamic between Eisenberg and Culkin. Benji’s character is truly fascinating throughout the film as the audience constantly sees the results of his grief and David’s reactions to them further strengthen their bond.
Watch it if you can
Although they are cousins in this film, they really feel like brothers reconnecting. Overall, I had a good time with this movie. I doubt it’s going to blow anyone away and it doesn’t have any moments of extreme catharsis, but everything it does, it does pretty well. From Alien: Romulus to Road House, check out some of our favorite posters from 2024.