In 2024, Sebastian Stan was in vastly different movies that had one thing in common: transformation.
In The Apprentice, Stan played a young Donald Trump, who evolves from successful New York businessman into a political aspirant. Stan’s better role that year was in A Different Man, in which he depicts a man with a disfigured face who discovers that looks run skin deep.
Aaron Schimberg’s movie, which is out on Netflix, is a dark comedy with surreal touches in the vein of Being John Malkovich. Stan plays Edward, an actor afflicted with neurofibromatosis that has manifested itself over his face. Socially awkward because of his condition, Edward agrees to an experimental surgery that will alter his appearance.
The procedure might lead to the acting career in theatre that Edward always wanted. It might also earn the affections of his neighbour, the playwright Ingrid (Renate Reinsve).
Everything goes per plan until Oswald turns up. Oswald (Adam Pearson) has the same condition as Edward, but he has other things too – healthy self-esteem, a sense of humour, a way with the ladies. Edward finds himself in danger of being replaced by a man who looked like his previous self but has no problem getting ahead because of it.
Aaron Schimberg’s screenplay is like a modern-day fairy tale, in which a magic wand does the trick but the beneficiary struggles to make sense of the gifts. Edward’s life before the surgery was difficult but not complicated. Although people made fun of him and he resisted looking into the mirror, he now finds that his handsome avatar is all on the surface.
The 112-minute movie is beautifully paced. Sebastian Stan is introduced without his prosthetic make-up well into the plot. The scenes have observational humour laced with satirical flourishes.
The comedy is biting but never cruel. Aaron Schimberg handles a tricky subject with sensitivity and flair, making his points about society’s obsession with looks without getting heavy-handed or preachy.
The acting is uniformly commendable. Renate Reinsve, the Norwegian actor from Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World and Sentimental Value, is excellent as the conflicted Ingrid, who finds herself longing for the old Edward.
Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson – a British actor who has neurofibromatosis in real life – play distinctive personalities, ensuring that one can never be confused for the other. Stan especially aces the close-ups – this is a film in which faces have been filmed with love and thoughtfulness, as it should be.
Also start the week with these films:
‘Aaranya Kaandam’ earns its cult label
The unbelievable, undeniable ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’
In ‘Rental Family’, an actor’s latest job is to imitate life
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