The Art of Self-Defense (2019) User Reviews

Weirdly interesting

[stevehallcharles · 7/10 · 7 March 2021]

Now, I'm not into artsy clever films. I normally like stuff with some action or drama. The only reason I watched this was that I was looking for a film to watch on a Sunday night rather than just another series.

It definitely has that low budget feel and almost film student look about it, but for some reason I was dragged along with it. It's definitely a bit different, dark and a bit clever. You think you know where it's going - and it does go there, but has a bunch of other directions that you didn't see coming. Some might argue that it's a bit random - like someone had a bunch of ideas, but only one film so they mashed them altogether. Either way, for me, it worked.

It's not going to appeal to everyone and this is evident by the reviews. Give it a try. It's certainly different to the usual copycat rubbish.

The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

[rockman182 · 8/10 · 17 July 2019]

When I first saw the trailer for this film I knew I had to see it. It looked like it was going to be a wonderful dark comedy centered around karate of all things. I've never heard of the filmmaker of this movie but the idea of Jesse Eisenberg learning karate to fend off bullies and delivering deadpan delivery is alluring in and of itself. The film manages to blend its comedy and thrills extremely well and is a really good time all around. I was unsure about the closing stages of the film but it is certainly a remarkably entertaining and unique time.

The film is about a timid accountant who one day is mugged and beaten severely by a motorcycle gang. He decides that he wants to learn how to defend himself and stumbles across a karate gym that immediately intrigues him. He meets a very bizarre Sensei and quickly tries to assimilate the skills he learns to improve all aspects of his life and become more manly. Little does he know the darkness within the underworld of this karate world.

I loved Eisenberg's character in this. To see his character progress and to watch the confidence grow, its a joy. The Sensei character is also so entertaining. The films script is so sharp in all the right places. Even the serious moments are funny because of the dark comedic writing. That makes it worthwhile. Its also refreshing to see a look into the world of karate and the growth in stature in the art, whether this film plays it to be factual or makes up stuff.

As the film was winding down you felt the twists and turns coming and also hope the film doesn't fall apart. Luckily, it doesn't and manages to stay intact with respect to the tone of the first half of the film. This may fly under a lot of people's radars but I wish for everyone to go and see this.I don't think I've actually seen anything quite like this before. Its unique in its nature and has fun with a very creative plot.

8/10

If you like dry, dark comedies, this is for you.

[moonkitty-1 · 8/10 · 16 October 2019]

It is refreshing to see a movie that is not like the typical garbage we have come to expect from Hollywood. This movie is not for shallow minded folks who like to be spoon fed typical brain dead movie fodder.

Entertaining dark comedy well worth the watch

[carlos-pires · 7/10 · 6 October 2019]

Not a Oscar-winning piece, but a very entertaining dark comedy around the trope of the peaceful/wimp character turned badass. Jesse Eisenberg portrays the perfect wimp, and the whole cast is actually pretty good.

An atypical martial arts twisted satire with hidden depths and an absurdly dark undertone

[akcenat · 6/10 · 18 October 2019]

"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.

A lot darker than I expected

[Gordon-11 · 7 October 2019]

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.

Absurdist escapsim, intriguing but not much more than that

[PotassiumMan · 6/10 · 21 July 2019]

In this black comedy, Jesse Eisenberg is a wimpy office underling who is victimized by a criminal gang and because of his poor combat skills, decides to take up karate to protect himself and to improve his self-image and fighting spirit. He proves surprisingly adept in his training and advances steadily under the watchful eye of a puzzling, intimidating sensai.

Performances here are respectable, but hobbled by a screenplay that is choppy (no pun intended) before it loses luster and veers off to its surprise ending. Eisenberg does his best as a cardboard protagonist, the loser extraordinaire with a thankless job, a small dog, an '80s television set and who seemingly was born to fight absolutely no one. He is upstaged considerably by Alessandro Nivola who gives a formidable, bravado-driven performance as the magnetic sensai, the real life of the film. Imogen Poots is a welcome presence as the strong-willed sole female student. Even with a muddled script, the acting is enough to keep things afloat, just barely.

As long as credibility is not your test, this film could make for weird, passable entertainment. In a very narrow way, it succeeds as a silly diversion, chock full of deadpan humor, ferocious jolts and just enough taste for blood that the squeamish should be forewarned. In the end, however, it goes down as clever, if inconsistent comedy. Not recommended, except to esoteric and casual viewers.

punch with your feet

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 18 July 2019]

Greetings again from the darkness. This special screening included a simulcast of the Red Carpet arrivals at the Brooklyn Alamo Drafthouse hosted by Eric Davis of Fandango, and the broadcast went to many cities around the U.S. What immediately struck me from the interviews with writer-director Riley Stearns and co-stars Jesse Eisenberg and Alessandro Nivola was how carefully they chose their words in describing the story and their characters. It was clear what we were about to watch was not just another acting gig, and certainly not some mainstream mush. According to those involved, this was something altogether different.

Casey Davies (Eisenberg) is a corporate accountant. He's a meek guy. Casey is an outsider at work, and has no social life beyond his TV and devoted dachshund (because a poodle would be too obvious). To put it bluntly, he's a lonely guy. One evening, whilst walking back from the grocery store to buy dog food, Casey is mugged and brutally attacked by a motorcycle gang. This leaves Casey not only alone and battered, but also afraid. His decision to buy a gun gets sidetracked when a local dojo catches his eye. He's drawn to the whispered guidance of the Sensei (Nivola), and the confidence and power derived from the self-defense skills being taught.

Filmmaker Stearns takes on toxic masculinity in a subversive and satirical manner. His dark comedy is played straight by the participants, putting viewers in a state of awkward laughter and uncertain reactions to what we are witnessing. It's both exaggerated and nuanced, as there are informative subtleties in both the dialogue and the mannerisms of the characters. Imogen Poots plays Anna, perhaps the most interesting character in the film. She's a talented brown belt frustrated by her Sensei's unwillingness to award her with a much-deserved black belt. Instead, she is relegated to teaching kids' classes, and only gets to shine in the mysterious night classes. It's a shame this role wasn't expanded to take advantage of Ms. Poots' talent.

Ah yes, the night classes. Participants must be personally invited by Sensei, and it's here where Casey finally begins to understand the dark forces at work. Henry, played by David Zellner (co-producer with his brother Nathan) is so desperate for Sensei's stamp of approval that he makes the tragic mistake of attending night class without being invited. The violence in the film elevates quickly.

We witness the changes in Casey as he gains confidence, and the many transitions in his life take the form of shifting colors, foreign language and music. Misogyny and toxic masculinity were also addressed in the recent action-comedy STUBER, but here, Mr. Stearns' voice challenges us to analyze what we are laughing at. Nivola's Sensei is simultaneously funny and frightening, and demented and enlightened. The insecurities that accompany the male ego are contrasted with the extra hurdles women must clear to be accepted as equals. These people could possibly be caricatures, but possibly not. There is much confusion over how to be a man in today's world - what it means, how to act, how to control sparks of aggression, how to prevent the misuse of power. We watch as Casey becomes so similar to those he so despised. We also learn that the Alpha male may not be male after all. These are some serious topics buried within the lesson of "kick with your hands and punch with your feet." It's an offbeat film presented in a way that makes us sit up and take note.

Brilliant Writing

[rws_20 · 9/10 · 12 March 2021]

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.

Dark (if not black) comedy - "I want to become what intimidates me"

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 20 July 2019]

"The Art of Self-Defense" brings the story of Casey. As the movie opens, we get to know Casey: reading the newspaper, being mocked at work (where he audits expense reports), and generally being very timid and afraid. Then one night, when he realizes his cat is out of food, he walks to the convenience store, but upon walking back he is harassed, and ultimately severely mugged, by a group of bikers. After his recovery, one day he walks by a karate school, and on sheer impulse he walks in, and decides to take karate lessons. When asked by the head of the karate school why, Casey replies "I want to become what intimidates me". At this point we are less than 15 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the latest film of writer-director Riley Steams, who previously gave us the excellent "Faults". Here he examines what it takes to be a "man" in today's society. From having seen the movie's trailer, I expected the movie to be about Casey's transformation from an intimidated and lonely guy into a more determined fella, and there is certainly some of that in the film. But as it turns out, the movie goes much further and deeper than that in ways that I had not seen coming. The last 30 minutes are outstanding. I shan't say more due to the plot-heavy nature of the movie. Jesse Eisenberg (35 in the meantime) plays the role of the 35 yr. old Casey brilliantly. Alessandro Nivola is equally up to the task (as the head of the karate academy). Even though this is billed as a "comedy" and there are a number of laugh-out-loud moments, this movie is very dark, if not outright black. Frankly, it amazes me the movie got made at all, as there is slim to zero mainstream commercial appeal (which is perfectly fine by me).

"The Art of Self-Defense" premiered at this year's SXSW to immediate critical acclaim. The movie finally opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, and I couldn't wait to see it. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended dismally: 5 people to be exact. Given the nature of the film, I wouldn't be surprised if it only gets a one week run here. But hopefully this movie will find a broader audience as it is released on other platforms. If you like your comedy dark or black, I'd readily encourage you to check this out, be it in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

Underwhelming

[ofumalow · 5/10 · 9 July 2019]

I like Eisenberg and Nivola, so I was primed to enjoy this, but what a letdown. It starts off with a decent droll tenor, even if the humor is pretty lame and the story very simplistic (fraidity-cat nerd gets mugged, then gets empowered in karate class). But rather than evolving into something more interesting, the film just gets mean-spirited without truly going "dark," with improbable developments and insufficient depth to pull them off. Characters who turn out to be sorta evil remain cartoonish, so there's no punch to the revelations.

This is neither a farce or a "black comedy," just some tepid compromise between, and it wastes some very good actors. You've seen Eisenberg playing a dweeb before--he's certainly good at it, but this movie doesn't bring out anything new--while Nivola, who's normally terrific, is neither very funny or sufficiently threatening in a role that calls for both. Likewise Imogen Poots and David Zellner get one-note roles. I don't know what this movie was trying for, but it didn't work for me. I would have rated it lower (because I really did wind up disliking it), but in technical and acting terms the filmmaking was competent enough to give it a medium grade.

Slow, no mercy

[kosmasp · 9/10 · 25 March 2021]

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.

Pointless weird

[jordymadueno · 6/10 · 19 July 2020]

Eisenberg seems to like this type of movies that are weird but sometimes it just get too weird at the point that the production or story doesn't matter anymore.

Could have been better

[davebartle · 5/10 · 6 October 2019]

I wanted to like this, but it was ruined by absolutely terrible character development. For example, Sensei is evil because he is a misogynist. How do we know? He explicitly states it. There is zero subtlety in this movie and every character is one dimensional (with a not so subtle left wing message attached). I kept waiting for the clever twist at the end, but it didn't come. Everything you guessed in the first fifteen minutes is what eventually happens. If you can get past the basic screen writing class level script, this movie is okay to have on in the background while you are doing something else.

It needs a lighter touch for its heavier themes.

[JohnDeSando · 21 July 2019]

Writer/director Riley Stearns' The Art of Self Defense has been called a "dark comedy." Maybe it is, but with so much dark and so little comedy, it would be better thought of as a psycho study of male impotence. That it doesn't have the light Jim Jarmusch touch as in The Dead Don't Die, where dry comic "Bill-Murray" reactions rule the raged zombie terrain, highlights the art of understated humor absent from Stearns' satire.

In today's world of women's ascendency into the macho sphere previously owned by men, Stearns has a serio-comic thriller in an indeterminate time with echoes of Fight Club and any men's magazine that features gun ownership and boobs in the same issue. The Art of Self Defense is anything but about art; it is a dense, dark, melancholic cautionary tale of a 30-something milquetoast, Casey (Jesse Eisenberg), who becomes a menace through the "art" of karate.

Besides the overly-long set up, this film has a challenge to strike the right balance between the dreary life of an introvert and the dangerous world of violence and misogyny, not dull but disquieting. The film is effective showing the almost exclusive male training in artful macho that discriminates against a woman (Anna, played by Imogen Poots) by stifling her ambition and relegating her to a boiler room for a locker room.

Casey embodies the wrong-headed notion that courage can come from a punch and a kick. As for an equalizing gun, it is not for the weak as the dojo's rules claim. Casey will have his own take. His sensei (Alessandro Nivola) must face his pupil as avenging angel.

The Art of Self Defense is not for most regular film goers: It's slow and unsure of its tone. For the discriminating audience, however, it offers a skewered perspective on the hobbling of timid spirits by substituting violence for sympathy and force for understanding.

In the hands of rank amateurs, the defense should be for themselves against themselves. Fight Club or Karate Kid this is not. Like them it is in its minimal humor. Dark comedy? not so much.

So weird, but kinda OK, but also weird

[japiespoelstra · 7/10 · 22 October 2019]

I can't say I enjoyed the movie but it was intriguing. The acting was quite amazing and very subtle. Black Comedy is a way to describe it.

The dog gets avenged

[perica-43151 · 6/10 · 1 November 2020]

This flawed Fight club meets Social Network meets John Wick comedy is somewhat marinated in woke mis andry nonse nse and propag anda, but if you are willing to look pass that it contains some nice touches. It starts of in a pedestrian way, but then has a brilliant turn in the middle, only to proselytize mi sandry towards the end, but the very end, when the little dog gets avenged and earns its rightful place near the old master, softens the idio tic woke prop aganda a little bit and allows for a more sensible interpretation. So the movie is a few punches short of great, but manages to be interesting. While it somewhat lacks open mind, it requires it in order to be enjoyed - too bad its agen da is a bit dir ty, and its originality is limited by narrow perspective and lack of a layer of self awareness that could have made it into a more intelligent piece. Still, worth a watch for some of the other elements that are enjoyably twisted.

INCREDIBLY stiff dialogue.

[EllaMentree · 6/10 · 28 November 2019]

At first I thought it was just a quirk of the main character, with Eisenberg channeling his character from The Social Network. As the movie went on and more characters were introduced, I realized this was a deeper trend.

Nobody in the movie speaks in a believable human way. It's all rapid-fire robotic sentences that feel emotionless and it really messes with the tone of the film. It makes it incredibly difficult to discern whether a moment is meant to be humorous because a character is being needlessly verbose or if that's some sort of stylistic choice to reflect on the rigidity of karate.

As for the film itself, it's moderately okay. It has a tolerable plot that doesn't ever drag for too long, but that's really all it has going for it.

It's not a bad film, but it really isn't terribly great either. It's not mind-numbingly boring, but it's not terribly thrilling or cerebral either. It has very little going for it.

It's a better use of time than waiting in line at the DMV, but that's really all I can say for it.

How do you review a movie that just makes you uncomfortable?

[tlew0692 · 6/10 · 19 December 2019]

It's hard for me to say how good/bad this movie is. All I can say is that it was fairly predictable and made me really uncomfortable.

great dark comedy about hypermasculinity

[chndnnyk · 9/10 · 20 May 2019]

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.

Dark Karate Kid

[stevendbeard · 7/10 · 29 July 2019]

I saw "The Art of Self-Defense", starring Jesse Eisenberg-Batman v Superman:Dawn of Justice, Zombieland; Alessandro Nivola-American Hustle, Jurassic Park 3; Imogen Poots-Need For Speed, Fright Night_2011 and Steve Terada-When the Bough Breaks, Think Like a Man Too. This is a dark comedy that was written and directed by Riley Stearns-a Texan who hails from Austin-that also directed Faults & The Cub. This movie was filmed in Kentucky. It's kind of a dark, comical remake of the Karate Kid-one of my favorite lines is when the sensei says, 'Punch with your feet...Kick with your hands!' Jesse plays a boring bookkeeper with no friends besides his pet dachshund. One night, on his way to buy dog food, he gets mugged and beaten up by a motorcycle gang. After getting out of the hospital he decides to buy a gun, but as you know, there is a waiting period to actually get your hands on the firearm so that he has to cool down. On his dejected walk home, he sees a Karate school and decides to check it out and start taking lessons. Alessandro is the sensei. Imogen and Steve are fellow competitive students. Imogen thinks she is not treated equally with the males in class so she is even more determined to prove them wrong. As Jesse gains more confidence, his life starts to change. Alessandro even invites Jesse to start coming to the night classes-it is by invite only for special students-and that's when things really get interesting. The night classes are much more intense and Jesse discovers more than he bargained for as secrets of his sensei and fellow students come to light. It's rated "R" for violence, language and sexual content-including nudity-and has a running time of 1 hour & 44 minutes. It's not for everyone but I enjoyed it and would buy it on DVD.

Ridiculous

[gbortoli · 4/10 · 8 October 2019]

I don't know what this movie is supposed to be. I know it's not funny, I didn't laugh once if not at its cringiness. It does not make sense whatsoever. The plot is obvious, whatever happens in the office is completely unrealistic and the karate that is depicted is the exact opposite of how it really is. I feel insulted by the stupidity of this movie.

Brilliant

[mrozman-1 · 9/10 · 3 July 2021]

The writing is 'genius'.

Sure there are some scenes taking from other movies and it has more of an Indie production but the acting is exceptional, the some serious creativity and the dark comedy is as funny as it gets. I wasn't expecting much and was completely entertained from start to finish. It's not at all predictable which I also appreciated. I recommend this movie to someone that wants to be surprised, enjoys laughing of course good writing.

Showcases How To Take Down Toxic Maleness In an Exaggerated Way

[eric262003 · 7/10 · 16 February 2020]

Though it feels like a cross between "Napoleon Dynamite" and Fight Club" with the martial arts inspired sports films of weaklings overcoming the odds like the 1980's karate themed movies, however this one takes us on a much more scarier route as Riley Stearns leads us into "The Art of Self-Defense". Offbeat in its delivery it offers no remorse in keeping its mission to demolish the effects of toxic masculinity by keeping the movie stylish and letting the scenes high in intensity and making the humour dark.,

Though he has only directed two films to his credit (his directing debut was in 2014's "Faults") Stearns feels that it's his desire to keep his films especially the comical ones dark as he leads us to the life around Casey (Jesse Eisenberg who was the right person for this part), an outsider in world where the humble have no place in the societal norms. After getting roughed up by a motorcycle gang, he takes it upon himself to become a super strong individual prepared to take on his adversaries. All this over him just wanting to by food for his starving pet. Casey finds his calling after passing by a karate class as he believes this will lead him to become a better person and a confident fighter.

Before choosing martial arts, Casey takes the easier path of buying a gun, but then decides karate might be the better option. He gets an open invitation by the mysterious and zen-seeming Sensei (Alessandro Nivola) who lures the young man into his world where he believes that guns are for losers.

Casey seems infatuated by winning belts as people getting better from advanced levels and doesn't mind being taken down to be back up approach which has been the initiatives drawn on by combat themed disciplines going as far as the beginning of time. However, the Sensei isn't only giving Casey a lesson in karate, he's teaching him the fundamentals to manhood like learning German instead of French, listening to heavy metal over pop and giving up his dachshund in exchange for a German shepherd. Casey takes it in the don't ask why ask how high approach.

Things take a very dark path once Casey knows about the Sensei's night classes that are sworn to secrecy what this dojo really is all about as there's something quite evil lurking the place. This is where our hero starts to get second thoughts about himself and what he's gotten himself into. The scenes are panned out like pages from a graphic novel as we're treated to cartoon-like characters that never reconsider their thoughts and everything feels fake. Unlike the very iconic 1980's franchise "The Karate Kid", this film gives a more comic book setting that takes itself too seriously though we can't because the scenery looks way too surreal and the outcome is very hyperbolic. The surrealism may be okay from the first scenes, unfortunately this wears off and becomes tiring once the movie comes to the climax. There's plenty to like about "The Art of Self-Defense" being the interesting premise and the potential to be cult classic, but falls back once Stearns decides to make issues exaggerated.

Just watch fight club and thank me later

[mr_sharma · 3/10 · 12 March 2020]

Comedy, crime, drama, mystery, sport, thriller.

According to IMDB that's the genres this film falls into.

Unfortunately, there is no category for pointless....or even more precisely weirdly pointless.

I don't understand the kooky allure of Jesse Eisenberg. It may well have worked well in Aaron Sorkin's "The social network".....but he's carried that on.....and well it's.....just Jesse Eisenberg being kooky.

This film is very odd. I presume what they wanted to explore with this was toxic masculinity. They failed.

The comedy is oddball and primarily derived by people talking in a way that no human talks to another unless they are all suffering from the same condition....which is unnecessarily saying things they are thinking in a monotone way. It isn't funny.

It has no elements of the crime genre. There is no major dramatic tension anywhere to be found. The sport of karate is hardly explored.

It definitely isn't thrilling and the only mystery is pretty much obvious from about the middle of the film.

If it was written as an exploration of masculinity...simply put there is no better film than fight club for that.....now that is a comedy, thriller....and so on....and I would argue contains more sport than this load of....

About 2/3rds of the way through this film I felt like walking out....but since it was my home and my tv....I just carried on watching and felt like making sure no one else makes the mistake of wasting their time.

Watch fight club. Just watch fight club. Avoid this. It's weird and pointless.