The Art of Self-Defense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bms6Hba-3A

R ‧ 2019 ‧ Action, Comedy, Crime ‧ 1h 44min

After being attacked on the street, a young man enlists at a local dojo, led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei, in an effort to learn how to defend himself from future threats.

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ABOUT

The Art of Self-Defense is a 2019 American martial arts black comedy film written and directed by Riley Stearns and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola and Imogen Poots. It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 10, 2019, and was released in the United States on July 12, 2019, by Bleecker Street.

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CREDITS

Director

Riley Stearns

Writer

Riley Stearns

Stars

Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, Imogen Poots

Companies

End Cue

DETAILS

Released

2019-07-19

Runtime

1h 44min

Rating

Genres

Action, Comedy, Crime

CONTEXT

Countries

USA

Languages

English, French, German

Awards

Awards, 5 nominations

Keywords

sensei,self defense class,traumatized man,suicide,male nudity

CAST

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PHOTO GALLERY

RATINGS

6.6/10

65%

6.6/10

83%

5.9/10

CRITICS REVIEWS

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Film ThreatBobby LePire
“The Art Of Self Defense is set in a very peculiar world populated by eccentric characters. While that might turn some off, due to the vision of director Riley Stearns and his incredible production team, as well as a top-notch cast, the movie is as hilarious as it is unpredictable. It emerges as a strong early contender for best film of the year.”

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VarietyPeter Debruge
“This singular black comedy balances off-kilter humor with an unexpectedly thriller-esque undercurrent, to the extent that audiences will find it tough to anticipate either the jokes or the dark, “Fight Club”-like turn things eventually take — all to strikingly original effect.”

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IndieWireEric Kohn
“Stearns’ tone involves a tricky negotiation between the melancholy and the macabre. “The Art of Self-Defense” doesn’t always pull that balance off, but it has enough ambition and wacky payoff to make the zany gamble worthwhile.”

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ConsequenceRandall Colburn
“A singular work, brimming with ideas, by a budding visionary with a hell of a lot to say.”

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The Film StageJohn Fink
“When the film works it veers into the domain of the uncomfortably hilarious as the maladjusted becomes a malcontent without a choice.”

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San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
“Written and directed by Riley Stearns, The Art of Self-Defense brings out a particularly skillful performance from Eisenberg, whose job is to harmonize the film’s odd shifts in tone and make something real and heartfelt of the central character’s journey.”

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The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeFore
“While the beats of its plot may be nothing very new, the tone, language and performances here make Self-Defense its own beast.”

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The PlaylistRyan Oliver
“While slight, yet accurate in his thesis, Stearns does what any good filmmaker should do to make that message stick: he makes us laugh.”

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The A.V. ClubJesse Hassenger
“In a movie that often observes male dysfunction with some ironic distance, Eisenberg brings the satire closer to the bone.”

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New York PostJohnny Oleksinski
“Director and writer Riley Stearns’ mediocre comedy aims to be a roundhouse kick at traditional masculinity, but doesn’t manage to take it down in any deep or insightful way.”

AWARDS

“
Munich Film Festival2019
“2019 Nominee CineVision Award, Riley Stearns”

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Chlotrudis Awards2020
“2020 Nominee Chlotrudis Award, Alessandro Nivola”

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Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival2019
“2019 Nominee Crossovers Prize, Riley Stearns”

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Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival2019
“2019 Nominee Bucheon Choice Award, Riley Stearns”

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Americana Film Fest2020
“2020 Nominee Audience Award, Riley Stearns”