After undergoing facial-reconstructive surgery, Edward becomes fixated on an actor in a stage production based on his former life.
Edward Lumuel (Sebastian Stan) is an aspiring actor with a highly disfigured face. He is often stared at and talked about. Eventually, he undergoes an experimental surgery that radically transforms him. He changes his identity to someone named Guy, telling everyone that Edward killed himself, and lives out a bachelor lifestyle. However, his enjoyment of his new appearance starts to fade away as he struggles to match the confidence of Oswald (Adam Pearson), a man who also has severe facial disfigurement.
Sebastian Stan has always been an actor I enjoyed. His rise to prominence is attributed to the role of Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Still, he has consistently shown up as a supporting player in other films such as “I, Tonya” or “The Martian.” Now, he has been given more leading roles and seems to gravitate towards troubled, immoral characters, this being one of them.
When a film focuses on disability or disfigurement, it’s either a sob story, an inspirational tale about overcoming difficulties, or someone playing a cartoonish villain. This film is none of those things.
Edward’s new neighbor, Ingrid (Renate Reinsve), does not judge him based on his looks and seems to genuinely want to be his friend (pay special attention to the word seems here). She is a playwright and wrote an off-Broadway play inspired by Edward after his “death.” Guy auditions for the part of Edward. He gets the role and starts a relationship with Ingrid. He gets everything that he wants until it all starts to fall apart when Oswald enters the picture.
This film underlines how outer beauty is not everything. Despite his disfigurement, Oswald is incredibly outgoing and quite charming. He easily makes friends quickly and has many talents. He is the opposite of how Edward acted with his condition, and he becomes intensely jealous of Oswald.
Stan perfected the deadpan stare as he dissociates in group settings when Oswald is the center of attention. You can see the resentment build and build in his eyes until he finally snaps.
This is the first film I’ve seen from writer/director Adam Schimberg, and I thought he did a masterful job. The main characters, except Oswald, are so incredibly selfish and flawed. The film adeptly serves as a cautionary tale to be careful what you wish for.
I will say the ending of this film came a bit out of left field for me. But ultimately, I thought it was fitting. 2024 has been a pretty weak year for movies so far, but “A Different Man” is one of the strongest entries I’ve seen yet.
In Theaters Friday, October 4th
