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A Different Man centres around Edward (Sebastian Stan), an aspiring actor who struggles to learn his lines, and who suffers from neurofibromatosis, a condition in which tumours grow in the body’s nervous system, and are non-cancerous, but often involve the skin, and in his case, they cover his entire face, leading to him being an introvert and socially-awkward, not least because of getting stared at on the tube.
In his apartment block, he meets new neighbour and playwright Ingrid (Renate Reinsve – Presumed Innocent (2024)), after accidentally cutting his hand leading to them striking up a friendship in which she starts to write a play based on his experiences.
Around the same time, he starts an experimental drug trial with a view to healing him, completely curing him of the condition – even though there’s no cure in reality at present – leading to him moving out and finally having a successful life and career, albeit as an estate agent, in the main, rather than a long-term actor, but after chancing upon where the play is being rehearsed and getting an audition, how can he play a part when he’s no longer afflicted?
Meanwhile, although the condition is quite rare, especially for someone to have the exact and extreme amount of facial affliction, one day Oswald comes into his life – portrayed by actor and campaigner Adam Pearson (who also appeared alongside Stan’s Marvel colleague, Scarlett Johansson, in Under The Skin), who suffers the condition in real life, albeit with his character seeming totally at ease with his condition – and for reasons you’ll discover, Edward’s life is about to turn upside down in ways you can’t even guess.
When it came to A Different Man, I was hooked from the moment I saw the trailer as it’s so offbeat, as well as bringing such a disability to the big screen, and for Mr Stan who’s playing against type, it makes a change from the sort of thing I’ve seen him in the most, which is those mediocre Marvel films, such as Avengers Endgame (yes, mediocre. Deal with it.)
That said, I am very much looking forward to his forthcoming film, The Apprentice, in which he plays Donald Trump.
The acting is spot-on for all concerned from start to finish, plus there’s also random moments that come about and which sweep you along, such as in the first act, the ceiling leak in his flat becoming an increasing irritation, and it all leads to a brilliant film which will be seen by hardly anyone on the big screen because it only has a limited release.
And one comment below, but it’s a big spoiler for the film, so do not read before you watch the film:
Also shot on 16mm, it’s one of those films where Odeon can’t even be bothered to show it in their 20-screen Trafford Centre!
As their tweet below shows, this one backfired on them, as they championed its screening, yet it’s only showing at a mere handful of their cinemas, and everyone who replied was there to say how much they want to see it – but they can’t! And there’s clearly a great buzz, so get on it, Odeon!
For me, given that I couldn’t see it with my Limitless subscription, I took a trip to Cineworld which, as I’ve mentioned before, it just £3 for a film from Friday to Sunday if you have a Three mobile phone SIM. I certainly wouldn’t have paid their full asking price of £10.99, but a few quid is fine, and it’s certainly one of the best films of the year I’ve seen.
There is no mid- or post-credit scene.
Watch Sebastian Stan but as you've never seen him before. A Different Man is in cinemas now!
🎟️ https://t.co/NM6OeKXz0I pic.twitter.com/KKRv494LIa
— ODEON (@ODEONCinemas) October 5, 2024
A Different Man is in cinemas now, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 112 minutes
Release date: October 4th 2024
Studio: A24
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (16mm)
Cinema: Cineworld Didsbury
Rating: 9/10
Director: Aaron Schimberg
Producers: Gabriel Mayers, Vanessa McDonnell, Christine Vachon
Screenplay: Aaron Schimberg
Music: Umberto Smerilli
Cast:
Edward: Sebastian Stan
Ingrid: Renate Reinsve
Oswald: Adam Pearson
Landlord: Lawrence Arancio
Sean: Miles G Jackson
Director: Patrick Wang
Corey: Neal Davidson
Dr. Varno: John Keating
Carl: C Mason Wells
Luther: Corey Taylor
Sally: Danielle Burgos
Sammy Silverheels: Sammy Mena
Johnny Handsome: Jon Dieringer
Dr. Flexner: Malachi Weir
Dr. Jewell: David Joseph Regelmann
Dr. Trutz: Nina Marie White
Abraham Lincoln: Peter D Straus
Goth Girl: Annelise Ogaard
Himself: Michael Shannon
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.