The Art of Self-Defense

Name: The Art of Self-Defense
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport, Mystery, Thriller
Released: July 12, 2019
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Alessandro Nivola, Apollo Bacala, Caroline Amiguet, Dallas Edwards, David Zellner

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 76 Ratings

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The Art Of Self-Defense

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Movie Details & Credits

Bleecker Street Media | Release Date: July 12, 2019 | R

Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Apollo Bacala, Caroline Amiguet, Dallas Edwards, David Zellner, Hauke Bahr, Imogen Poots, Jason Burkey, Jesse Eisenberg, Josh Fadem, Justin Eaton, Leland Orser, Phillip Andre Botello, Steve Terada

Summary: After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense ofAfter he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense of confidence for the first time in his life. But when he attends Sensei’s mysterious night classes, he discovers a sinister world of fraternity, brutality and hyper-masculinity, presenting a journey that places him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor. … Expand

Director: Riley Stearns

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Sport, Mystery, Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Bobby LePire

Mar 25, 2019

The Art Of Self Defense is set in a very peculiar world populated by eccentric characters. While that might turn some off, due to the vision of director Riley Stearns and his incredible production team, as well as a top-notch cast, the movie is as hilarious as it is unpredictable. It emerges as a strong early contender for best film of the year. Read full review

Matthew Dougherty

Jul 10, 2019

One of the most original films of the year so far, The Art of Self-Defense is a searing critique of male violence, and the notion of power at large, told through a traditional kung fu flick set in present day America. Dryly funny, the film also carries a wisdom that makes Riley Stearns a talent to watch. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Mar 12, 2019

Stearns’ tone involves a tricky negotiation between the melancholy and the macabre. “The Art of Self-Defense” doesn’t always pull that balance off, but it has enough ambition and wacky payoff to make the zany gamble worthwhile. Read full review

John DeFore

Mar 15, 2019

While the beats of its plot may be nothing very new, the tone, language and performances here make Self-Defense its own beast. Read full review

The Playlist Ryan Oliver

Mar 12, 2019

While slight, yet accurate in his thesis, Stearns does what any good filmmaker should do to make that message stick: he makes us laugh. Read full review

Ty Burr

Jul 17, 2019

Casey is possibly on the spectrum, but one of the problems with The Art of Self-Defense is that all the other characters seem to be, too. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Jul 10, 2019

The one halfway-interesting part of this movie is Nivola’s performance, which operates at both a deeper register of seriousness and a higher pitch of comedy than anything else. Read full review

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User Reviews

stoffanator

Jul 22, 2019

Just to let other reviewers know. The movie wasn't unable to make up its mind about whether or not you should laugh at the characters or care for them, it was a dark comedy, and a perfect one at that. Enjoyed from start to finish.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

BrunoVn00

Apr 5, 2020

Oh. My God. This is definitely not the movie the trailers tell you it is. It's a movie that seems like a generic karate comedy but my God this was a lot more than that. The first act was a bit slow and there wasn't too much comedy (In fact, I think it starts almost in the same depressingOh. My God. This is definitely not the movie the trailers tell you it is. It's a movie that seems like a generic karate comedy but my God this was a lot more than that. The first act was a bit slow and there wasn't too much comedy (In fact, I think it starts almost in the same depressing tone as the Joker movie) and the comedy it is isn't that funny but once Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) starts taking karate lessons the movie starts to be a BLAST. The comedy is top notch and it doesn't rely in the typical jokes you might expect from a karate movie (Like characters falling down or characters failing spectacularly at doing something, etc). The characters are so fun to watch. The protagonist and antagonist are fleshed out perfectly. The rest of the characters are more like background characters but they fit well in the story. There's a lack of music, which is fine, I guess but it didn't fit the tone. I mean, this movie needed more music because for me, a movie without music is a lot more grounded in reality but this movie isn't really grounded. So it lacks score music and when there's score music is just extremely forgettable. I ADORED the twists and turns and how this movie turned out into something smart and pretty dense.

Overall, it's not a perfect movie, but it's a movie I would definitely rewatch. I'll just probably skip the first half hour.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LamontRaymond

Jul 26, 2019

One of the most insane movies I've ever seen. Starts out a little dry and oddly funny and goes WAY off the edge. Can't give up much, but certainly worth seeing.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

hnestlyonthesly

Oct 7, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Art of Self-Defense deserves better than we can give it. It’s a dry, dark comedy that mocks the toxic masculinity of its genre bedfellows, chief among them Chuck Palanhiuk’s Fight Club. I’d be interested to see if there’s been any sustained discussion of those two films since ASD is so tickled by poking at the hyper masculine boy’s club mentality in the office, at the super market, in the locker room at the dojo–you know, regular guy stuff. Jessie Eisenberg is in his element. The real breakout star for me is Imogen Poots, returned at last from his transcendent Green Room, who is at once violent, misunderstood, kind, and angry as hell.

There are certainly aspects of this story that feel tired. My dad, who has not seen the movie, was able to get me about seventy-five percent of the way there just based on the trailer, but I really do think that the story and its twist rely heavily on the film’s overarching critique of the genre (and by extension, maybe the culture). I don’t know if that relegates it to second-class status with the likes of films like Isn’t It Romantic, but I hope not, because it accomplishes a lot more in the way of humor and surprises than I think the former did.

Wife didn’t think all that much of the movie. Said she was bored by the film for deeply personal reasons. She says she doesn’t care about the story of the agony of the tortured Beta male.

The ending drew applause from the audience and some big, shocked laughs. Poots’s fringe should win best supporting actor.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bataguila

Nov 4, 2019

entretenida,la historia es interesante, el guion da un giro cuando se vuelve surealista, me recuerda a pelis de Craig Zahler. El problema es que la 1ra media hora es muy pesada.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mauro_Lanari

Mar 12, 2020

(Mauro Lanari)
A minimalist "Fight Club" with the anthropological problematic supplanted by criticism of machismo. The black humor runs out at the first scene.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Proteus

Jul 22, 2019

Possibly the worst lighting I've ever seen in a movie. That is a giveaway of the production values and overall quality.

Terrible movie. The target audience for this movie must be the smallest ever. People who find male power issues leading to unneeded violence funny.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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