A Different Man
A Different Man
Starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson, C. Mason Wells
Directed by Aaron Schimberg
Edward Lemuel (Sebastian Stan) is a man living in New York City suffering from neurofibromatosis that manifests as a disfiguring facial condition that leaves him looking different than other people. He wants to be an actor but can't find work, and everyone on the street stare at him, lowering his self-esteem even more. He meets his new neighbor Ingrid Vold (Renate Reinsve) - an aspiring playwright - and instantly falls for her, but worries that his facial condition would keep her away. He undergoes an experimental medical treatment that cures him of his condition, making him an ordinary man. He claims Edward killed himself, and he now goes by Guy, becoming a successful real estate agent, but still dealing with the insecurities of his past. He discovers Ingrid is doing a play about Edward's life and auditions for the role while keeping his old identity a secret, and the two begin a relationship. Then he meets Oswald (Adam Pearson) - another man dealing with neurofibromatosis - but exudes confidence and personality that Edward still lacks despite having a normal face, and he grows to resent and also respect Oswald for that, proving that a person's inner beauty is more powerful than the outer.
2024 was the year of self-identity and self-worth, as not only "A Different Man" but also "The Substance" shows this from different viewpoints: one a man, one a woman. "The Substance" centers on an aging actress who finds herself without a job due to her age that undergoes an experimental medical treatment that turns her young and attractive again, but transforms her into a whole different person that share the same consciousness. With "A Different Man," a man with a facial deformity that he feels holds him back undergoes an experimental medical treatment that turns him into an attractive man, but still holds the insecurities deep inside. Both are fascinating, realistic (although "realistic" doesn't really describe "The Substance" in a lot of ways, it does with the underlying meaning) views of how we perceive ourselves through the lens of others, and both are stellar works in their own right.
Sebastian Stan continues to tackle unique roles apart from his more well-known persona as The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and "A Different Man" is no different. He wore the prosthetics that turned him into Edward off-screen as he wandered around New York City, even visiting his favorite coffee shop, with the mask to get a sense of how others would see a man with neurofibromatosis, using that to form how he played the role. You feel empathy for Edward but unlike other films that focus on these types of deformities, you don't see Edward as a hero or someone deserving of pity. He allows the situations of life to get him down, keeping him in his own cage as he falls for his neighbor but thinks she won't reciprocate because of his physical looks, despite her obvious attraction.
What makes Stan's performance interesting is what happens after he turns into...well...Sebastian Stan. He's now attractive and wanted in the eyes of others, and hooks up with a girl at the bar the first night, but you can still see the essence of Edward deep inside. He still walks hunched over, keeps his head down, and still speaks with a weak, timid way. You'd expect someone who gets a new lease on life would be more inclined to be self-centered, but Edward spent almost his whole life with this disfigurement that hindered his self-esteem, and not even a face lift could change that.
Claiming Edward killed himself, he now has the persona of Guy, a successful real estate salesman that his fellow co-workers idolize, but again he sits behind his desk with meek shyness, but when he learns his neighbor is making a play about him, he tries out for the role and lands it - while also landing his dream girl in the process. Yet as their relationship blossoms, he learns that Ingrid really did care for Edward (most notably in an off-putting scene when she asks Guy to put on his mask when they're in bed, making it really awkward), and he didn't need to change for her.
Things get worse when Oswald appears, another man with neurofibromatosis that doesn't let it affect his way of life. Played by Adam Pearson, who actually has neurofibromatosis, steals the show and lights up the screen. He's the man of the hour, lights up any room he walks into, and exudes confidence in spades. Edward both admires and resents Oswald for this, leading to a nutty final act that really serves as the driving force for the theme of the movie: no matter how much you change on the outside, if you don't change who you are on the inside, it won't make a lick of difference.
The film was shot by cinematographer Wyatt Garfield in Super 16mm, which makes it feel very intimate and understated, giving the color texture and feel of a 1970s independent film. It really adds to being in Edward's headspace as he sees the world in such stinted colors, giving a very naturalistic feel that doesn't exploit the narrative.
Proving himself more and more a capable actor outside the MCU, Sebastian Stan gives a commanding performance in "A Different Man" that shows beauty is indeed only skin deep, and it's what's inside you that defines who you are.
The Score: A+
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