L'arte della difesa personale

"The Art of Self Defense" follows a wimp accountant who is attacked and enlists in a Karate school. Jesse Eisenberg is made to play main role giving the character depth and nuance as he travels an arc of change from quiet, frightened, neurotic accountant to self-assured fighter. Movie, in general, tackles some pretty heavy, socially-relevant topics, most notably male/female masculinity. The film is little bit inconsistent, but the overall morbid, bleak tone keeps it relevant in today's admittedly violent culture. It means also that the film's tone certainly won't work for everyone, because it will polarize audiences, but viewers accustomed to finding laughs in the darkest corners will have a great time.

RATING: 6. Be aware, this movie is not for everyone.

I totally understand if some are not even remotely smitten by how akward and weird this movie is. This may come off as a bit of a Karate Kid/Cobra Kai ripoff or something that wants to take advantage of the fact the show gained so much popularity. But while I didn't do any research on how this came to fruition, I am very confident that this very adult take on Self Defense works even without the other show in mind. Now when I say adult, I mean that this is quite violent and quite graphic with that violence at points. So while there is some male nudity in this, I am not referring to anything sexual regarding the adult part. But that is another thing: While I reckon it is predictable when it comes to where the characters stand or where the story goes (at some point you'll figure it out), it is told with such great affection and such great attention to detail, that if you dig it, you will love it to the core! This really holds up the tone it sets from beginning to the end. Something not all movies are capable of doing. Especially in the strange/weird category. I would have wanted to have watched this in a cinema, but finding this little gem on a streaming plattform isn't that bad either. Not for the faint hearted or the easily offended ... but everyone else should give it a go.

I saw this gem at a recent film festival. This is why I go to see movies - something original, something "real," and something important. I didn't find it preachy at all, actually I thought it got it's point across in the best way possible - by being funny and entertaining. The movie starts off by grabbing your attention with how weak of a character Casey is, and how cruel his world is. His world is unrealistically desolate and lonely. But the way he rises out of it is why the movie goes from boring Wes Anderson fantasy to kick-ass Fight Club absurdity. Yes, there are absurd moments but they are completely consistent with the theme of the movie. A theme that needs to be shown again and again in cinema. I won't explicitly state it, but it is the reason this movie goes from average to great, albeit 45 minutes in. A little more gruesome than I'm used to, but I still enjoyed it.

This film tells the story of a man who learns karate for self defense.

The film starts off quite innocent, but soon descends into morbid darkness which I have not expected. It is so dark that I worry it might give karate a bad name! It is disturbing, but engaging as well.

I got way more than I bargained for with this one. I thought it was just going to be a stereotypical "Karate Kid" kind of story - boy was I wrong - it ended up being a very clever and original black comedy. It starts off pretty slow, but at about the halfway point it jumps from zero to a hundred very quick and does so beautifully; the sudden jump still keeps in tone with the build up and doesn't overstep the mark by becoming "too excessive", it's just the right amount of insanity.

There's a nice few twists and turns along way, and brilliant dry humour throughout. The cinematography is simple but effective, the actors give great performances, and Riley Stearns has really done a fantastic job with the script and direction.

This one is definitely worth a watch if you like the genre, even if you don't, give it a go, it might just surprise you.