‘A Different Man’ a New Way of Exploring the Theme
A Different Man highlights the talents of Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson but lacks some of the bite of films that tackled similar themes this year.
Maybe it’s because we’ve all spent so much time staring at ourselves on Zoom calls and social media, but it seems like our perception of our physical appearances has become an interesting topic in film this year.
The latest entry into this category is A Different Man.
Sebastian Stan stars as Edward, an actor who is given a chance to be a handsome and popular version of himself through a medical procedure but quickly discovers that maybe this dream is actually a nightmare.
If that sounds a lot like The Substance, that’s because it is.
Both films follow a similar pattern of characters in the entertainment industry willing to go to great lengths to alter their physical appearance but who soon discover that there’s a lot more to deal with inside.
In The Substance, it’s more of a commentary on the male gaze and the way women tend to be valued primarily for their looks before their talents or personalities are taken into consideration. In A Different Man, the themes are more about being confident enough in yourself, and owning who you are.
The pre-surgery Edward is intelligent, kind, and talented but more meek in his approach. He doesn’t see that people, including his director Ingrid (Renate Reinsve), like him for who he is because he doesn’t really like himself.
After his procedure, he’s confident, sometimes even cocky. He flirts, he’s ambitious, and he’s the man he thinks everyone wants him to be.
The wrench in Edward’s plan comes in the form of Oswald, Adam Pearson absolutely stealing the show. Not only does Oswald have the same facial condition, but unlike Edward, he doesn’t let it hold him back at all. He is everything that Edward wished he could be before the transformation, and seeing him succeed starts to slowly eat away at everything Edward has built.
As original Edward, Stan even holds himself as if he’s trying to disappear into the background. Then later, he showcases the kind of performative body language of confidence people have when they want to project an air of confidence, but you can tell there’s still a deep sea of insecurity inside. He proves once again that he’s an actor with so much range. He may be most well known for being in the MCU, but he can certainly hold his own when it comes to smaller, artistic films. As they say, get you a man who can do both.
So if you’re on board for 2024’s dark humor dysmorphia movies, it’s definitely worth checking out A Different Man.
