'The Art of Self-Defense' review: The karate introvert (SXSW)
Photo courtesy of Bleecker Street
“The Art of Self-Defense” is a clever look at the frailty of the male ego, but can also be interpreted as a cautionary tale to those who have seen “Fight Club” too many times and start to believe they’re invincible. Punches and threats have consequences and this film makes sure to get that point across in capital letters.
Right at the start of this briskly-paced story we meet Casey, a young accountant who is shy and seems to accept his own bubble of insecurities. The fact that he is played by Jesse Eisenberg, immediately registers as a lack of subtlety since the prolific actor is mostly known for playing socially awkward males, but that’s not a deal breaker. Especially since Eisenberg uses that familiar note to his advantage in the film’s second act, that’s when Casey is mugged and beaten on a routine trip to the grocery store. Enough is enough for poor Casey, whose unisex name and deer-in-the-headlights demeanor, have been an easy target to others for far too long. He decides to stand up to bullies by becoming the bully himself and step one is registering for karate classes at the nearest dojo.
But this is no ordinary dojo, in fact the leader of the place turns out to be a mysterious cult-like figure who demands all his students only refer to him as “sensei.” The man with (kind of) no name is played by Alessandro Nivola (“Disobedience”) and the camera frames him like a mythical creature. Tall, imposing and full of masculinity; in essence, all of the things Casey is not and desperately wants to be. Sensei sizes up Casey like a hunter lining up his prey and the second half of the film kicks off into what we believe will be familiar territory and yet that’s where “The Art of Self-Defense” takes a left turn and things really get interesting. The emasculated Casey starts to notice inconsistencies at the dojo during his training and character motivations start to shift. It’s always a nice surprise when a film can give you a wild left turn without expecting it and this film does not disappoint.
“The Art of Self-Defense” was written and directed by Riley Stearns (“Faults”) who also shares a unisex name with his protagonist and has been very open about his own insecurities in the past. Whether or not the film is autobiographical is another story, but as it stands he has crafted a fun and unique commentary on what it means to be a man in modern society.
Rating: B
“The Art of Self-Defense” will open in theaters nationwide on July 19
