The Art of Self-Defense (Review)
The Art of Self-Defense Packs Quite a Punch
We live in a world where society is starting to recognize just how incredibly dangerous toxic masculinity is for everyone, which makes The Art of Self-Defense such a timely and relevant film. Sure, it’s not the first movie to shine a light on how messed up traditional societal expectations of what “a man should be” (see Fight Club), but it is by far and away one of the funniest. More than ever, it examines the kind of man who can fall prey to this sense of hyper machismo that seems to be taking the country by storm once again. At the same time, it exposes the ludicrous mentality that lies at the source of it. Because of that, I found The Art of Self-Defense to be a perfect blend of both stars and popcorn.
At the center of The Art of Self-Defense is Jesse Eisenberg as Casey Davies, a submissive man who finds himself scared of the so-called alpha males that lurk on street corners and around office coolers. After a vicious attack, he signs up for Karate lessons in order to better protect himself. Unfortunately, he finds himself in a dojo run by a sensei (played by Alessandro Nivola) who seeks to turn Casey and all his students into what they fear the most. At first, his philosophy seems quaint and practical, but it quickly turns out that he’s a man who believes that might is right and Casey finds himself drinking the Koolaid and becoming drunk off the power. That is until he discovers a dark secret at the heart of the dojo he’s come to love so much.
Director and writer Riley Stearns adopts a deadpan approach to The Art of Self-Defense that fits perfectly with Eisenberg’s acting style. In fact, all the actors in the film seem perfectly suited to keeping a straight face while spouting ridiculous philosophies about the nature of strength in the world. Of course, all of them are so far into the realm of absurd that it’s hard not to laugh at the words coming out of their mouths. It’s not all dialogue driven though, and Stearns has a keen eye for restrained physical comedy as well. This is all aided by the monotone voice of the film overall that seems to stay completely calm even as things escalate towards a jaw-dropping conclusion. Overall, I found this understated film to be chalk full of laugh out loud moments that will leave audiences chuckling long after the credits have rolled.
As I mentioned, The Art of Self-Defense is a film that’s meant to expose the irrationality behind the growing resurgence of an American “ideal” of masculinity. Casey takes to the dojo and finds the influence of the dojo seeping into his everyday life. His sensei insists that he changes his tastes in music from adult contemporary to metal. The same goes for his love of French culture since France is a country often associated with weakness and an eagerness to surrender. It quickly becomes apparent that the dojo is essentially exactly like a cult, with its own hierarchy that makes its members desperate for acknowledgment and validation from its leader. I’ve seen a lot of cult movies over the years, but it was eerie seeing something so commonplace as a strip mall Karate school being a home of such nefarious practices. As funny as The Art of self-Defense is, the underlying themes are a chilling reminder of how easily people can be brainwashed when they’re filled with fear.
Jesse Eisenberg is phenomenal in this film and I found this to be one of his best performances since The Social Network. He’s always been an actor I’ve appreciated for his comedic performances, and the down-played nature of his character proves to be right up his alley. The same goes for Nivola, who has a restrained intensity to him that makes him appear like the kind of guy who men like Casey are desperate to earn the approval of. His serious nature proves crucial in emphasizing just how incredibly stupid he is when it comes to the life lessons he eagerly shares with his students. They’re joined by a sole female character played by Imogen Poots, who finds herself treading water in a world where women are seen as weak and ill-suited to the martial arts. This fuels a quiet anger that lurks deep within her character, and Poots brings it to bear effortlessly. All told the cast give riveting performances that make this an incredibly engrossing film that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats anticipating what comes next.
The Art of Self-Defense is far from a mainstream movie, but it’s one of the funniest films I’ve seen in theaters this year. While it does get incredibly dark at times, that only serves to give the rapid-fire jokes more of a punch as audiences are forced to watch awe-struck as this insane story unfolds. It has a certain air of brutality to it, but never succumbs to gratuitous violence. Despite the fact that the film is an overall exercise in absurdity, The Art of Self-Defense is a carefully crafted story that seems more relevant than ever given the current political climate in this country. Because of that, it’s a film that will be most appreciated by those members of the audience with an open mind and a more “woke” mentality. If that applies to you, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this bizarre film a chance.
