The Art of Self-Defense
Jesse Eisenberg joins a karate dojo after being attacked on the street in this dark comedy from writer-director Riley Stearns (Faults).
After joinining the local dojo, led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei (Alessandro Nivola, American Hustle), he uncovers a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman (Imogen Poots) fighting for her place in it.
Reviews & comments
Variety
press"The Art of Self-Defense" may be presented as an absurdist satire, but like the best American comedies... it doubles as a keen critique of our national character.
Hollywood Reporter
pressWhile the beats of its plot may be nothing very new, the tone, language and performances here make Self-Defense its own beast.
Considered learning Karate but thought Dojos were mysterious and intimidating?
Not all satiric, dark comedies have a message. Alessandro Nivola and Jesse Eisenberg combine to take the urine out of martial arts, mysterious knowledge, office life, gun control messages, and both wimpy & macho guys. The delivery here is as dry as a bone, especially from Nivola as the utterly serious Sensei of the Karate Dojo. While Eisenberg plays an...
Variety
press"The Art of Self-Defense" may be presented as an absurdist satire, but like the best American comedies... it doubles as a keen critique of our national character.
Hollywood Reporter
pressWhile the beats of its plot may be nothing very new, the tone, language and performances here make Self-Defense its own beast.
Considered learning Karate but thought Dojos were mysterious and intimidating?
Not all satiric, dark comedies have a message. Alessandro Nivola and Jesse Eisenberg combine to take the urine out of martial arts, mysterious knowledge, office life, gun control messages, and both wimpy & macho guys. The delivery here is as dry as a bone, especially from Nivola as the utterly serious Sensei of the Karate Dojo. While Eisenberg plays an...
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