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A DIFFERENT MAN

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Different Man
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAaron Schimberg
Written byAaron Schimberg
Produced byChristine VachonVanessa McDonnellGabriel Mayers
StarringSebastian StanRenate ReinsveAdam Pearson
CinematographyWyatt Garfield
Edited byTaylor Levy
Music byUmberto Smerilli
Production
companies		A24[1]Killer FilmsGrand Motel Films
Distributed byA24
Release datesJanuary 21, 2024 (Sundance)September 20, 2024 (United States)
Running time112 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.5 million[3][4]

A Different Man is a 2024 American psychological dark comedy film[5] written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson. The film follows Edward, an actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes an experimental procedure to change his face, only for his new life to make past insecurities and new issues apparent.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024, and was screened at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, where Stan won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance. It was theatrically released in the United States on September 20, 2024, by A24. It received positive reviews from critics, who mostly praised the performances of Stan and Pearson, as well as Schimberg’s screenplay. The film earned a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 97th Academy Awards, while Stan won Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.

Plot

Edward Lemuel is a socially awkward struggling actor with neurofibromatosis that manifests as a disfiguring facial condition. He befriends his new neighbor Ingrid Vold, an aspiring playwright, but is too nervous to act on his romantic feelings towards her. He secretly undergoes an experimental medical treatment to cure him of his condition. Seeing that it has worked, he assumes the identity of “Guy Moratz” and claims that Edward has killed himself, instead of continuing to report to his doctors.

Some time later, “Guy” is now a wealthy and successful real estate agent. One day, he discovers that Ingrid is producing Edward, an off-Broadway play that she has written based on his life. Using an old cast mask of his original face that was given to him by the doctors, he uses it to audition and is cast in the lead role after some initial questioning from Ingrid. Edward and Ingrid begin a sexual relationship soon thereafter, though Ingrid remains unaware of the truth of his identity. During rehearsals, they are visited by Oswald, a man also with neurofibromatosis who has taken an interest in the play. The confident and charismatic Oswald quickly befriends the cast and crew, although Edward is perturbed by his outgoing demeanor. One night, Ingrid asks Edward to wear the mask during sex; he hesitantly obliges until she abruptly laughs it off as “fucked up.”

Ingrid and Oswald grow closer, and after Edward is unable to memorize his lines, she decides to recast Oswald in the lead role and make rewrites based on Oswald’s feedback. The play is a success, and Oswald’s performance receives rave reviews. Edward’s mental state begins to deteriorate: he begins stalking Oswald, erratically starts acting like Oswald using the mask, and is fired from his real estate job. He eventually storms the stage of the play one night to physically attack Oswald. During the scuffle, part of the set falls on Edward, breaking his legs and arms. While he recovers from his injuries, he moves back into his former apartment next to Ingrid, who is now living with Oswald and making plans to adapt Edward into a film with Michael Shannon in the title role. One day, after Edward’s physical therapist expresses disgust for Oswald, Edward stabs him and is jailed.

Years later, an aged Edward once again encounters Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid, who are planning their retirement to a commune in Canada. They reveal that the Edward film adaptation fell through and the two look back on the play with disdain. A waiter arrives to take their orders, but a visibly nervous Edward struggles to choose from the menu. Oswald jokes that “Edward” has not changed a bit.

Cast

Production

A Different Man was announced in June 2022, with Aaron Schimberg set as writer and director. Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson were also announced as the leads, with Christine Vachon, Gabriel Mayers and Vanessa McDonnell set as producers.[1]

Principal photography began in July 2022 and shot over 22 days in New York City, primarily in the East Village, the Upper West Side, and parts of Brooklyn.[6][7]

Music

Main article: A Different Man (soundtrack)

Release

A Different Man premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2024.[8] It also screened in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024.[9] It also screened at New Directors/New Films Festival on April 3, 2024.[10] It was released in the United States on September 20, 2024,[11] and in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2024.[2] The film has been selected for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024 under the World Cinema section.[12]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 178 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website’s consensus reads: “Surreal and unsettling, A Different Man overcomes an occasionally tenuous narrative grasp by virtue of its bold, provocative approach to serious themes.”[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.[14]

The film was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review,[15] and ranked 21 on the Sight & Sound Best 50 Movies of 2024.[16]

Filmmakers Karyn Kusama, Greg Kwedar and Lance Oppenheim all cited A Different Man as among their favorite films of 2024, with Kwedar saying “This movie works on you in so many ways. Its humor has a terrifying bite in that it holds a mirror to the pernicious ways that comparison is a plague on our self worth. The performances by Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson and Renate Reinsve are stunning.”[17]

In June 2025, IndieWire ranked the film at number 51 on its list of “The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far).”[18]

Accolades

The film was selected in Competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, thus it was nominated to compete for the Golden Bear award.

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Palm Springs International Film FestivalJanuary 4, 2024Directors to WatchAaron SchimbergWon[19]
Berlin International Film FestivalFebruary 25, 2024Golden BearNominated[20]
Silver Bear for Best Leading PerformanceSebastian StanWon[21]
Sitges Film FestivalOctober 13, 2024Best Feature FilmA Different ManNominated[22][23]
Best ScreenplayAaron SchimbergWon
Savannah Film FestivalNovember 2, 2024Maverick AwardSebastian StanWon[24]
Gotham AwardsDecember 2, 2024Best FeatureAaron Schimberg, Gabriel Mayers, Vanessa McDonnell and Christine VachonWon[25][26]
Outstanding Supporting PerformanceAdam PearsonNominated
National Board of ReviewDecember 4, 2024Top Ten Independent FilmsA Different ManWon[27]
Los Angeles Film Critics AssociationDecember 8, 2024Best Supporting PerformanceAdam PearsonRunner-up[a][28]
Chicago Film Critics AssociationDecember 11, 2024Best Supporting ActorNominated[29]
New York Film Critics OnlineDecember 16, 2024Best ActorSebastian StanNominated[30]
Dublin Film Critics’ CircleDecember 19, 2024Best Actor3rd place[31]
Florida Film Critics CircleDecember 20, 2024Best Supporting ActorAdam PearsonNominated[32]
Greater Western New York Film Critics AssociationJanuary 4, 2025Best Original ScreenplayAaron SchimbergNominated[33]
Breakthrough DirectorNominated
Golden Globe AwardsJanuary 5, 2025Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or ComedySebastian StanWon[34]
Portland Critics AssociationJanuary 14, 2025Best Comedy FeatureA Different ManWon[35]
Critics’ Choice Movie AwardsJanuary 26, 2025Best Hair and Make-UpMike Marino, Sarah Graalman and Aaron SaucierNominated[36]
Casting Society of AmericaFebruary 12, 2025Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Feature Studio or Independent (Comedy)Maribeth Fox and Kimberly OstroyNominated[37]
Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists GuildFebruary 15, 2025Best Special Make-Up EffectsMike Marino, David Presto and Crystal JunadoNominated[38]
Independent Spirit AwardsFebruary 22, 2025Best Supporting PerformanceAdam PearsonNominated[39]
Best ScreenplayAaron SchimbergNominated
97th Academy AwardsMarch 2, 2025Best Makeup and HairstylingMike Marino, David Presto and Crystal JunadoNominated[40]

Notes

  1.  Shared with Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing

References

  1.  Kroll, Justin (June 21, 2022). “Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve & Adam Pearson To Star In ‘A Different Man’ For A24”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  2.  “A Different Man (15)”. British Board of Film Classification. July 31, 2024. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  3.  “A Different Man”. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  4.  “A Different Man”. The Numbers. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  5.  Grobar, Matt (July 16, 2024). “Sebastian Stan Transforms Into ‘A Different Man’ In First Trailer For A24’s Psychological Thriller”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  6.  Sharf, Zack (July 27, 2022). “Sebastian Stan Is Unrecognizable in First Look at A24’s ‘A Different Man,’ Stuns Fans With Prosthetics Transformation”. Variety. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  7.  “A Different Man Press Notes” (PDF). A24 Press. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  8.  D’Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). “Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  9.  Ntim, Zac (January 22, 2024). “Berlin Reveals 2024 Competition Lineup: Rooney Mara, Mati Diop, Isabelle Huppert, Abderrahmane Sissako Movies Among Selection”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  10.  Bergeson, Samantha (February 29, 2024). “‘A Different Man’ Makes New York City Premiere at New Directors/New Films 2024: See the Full Lineup”. IndieWire. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  11.  D’Alessandro, Anthony (May 30, 2024). “A24 Dates Fall & Holiday Slate With ‘The Front Room’, ‘A Different Man’, ‘We Live In Time’, ‘Heretic’ & ‘Baby Girl'”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  12.  Deb, Deepshikha (September 30, 2024). “MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup”. High On Films. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  13.  “A Different Man“. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 5, 2025. 
  14.  “A Different Man“. Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  15.  “Top 10 Independent Films Archives”. National Board of Review. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  16.  “The 50 best films of 2024|Sight & Sound”. December 6, 2024. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  17.  O’Flat, Chris (December 30, 2024). “65 Directors Pick Their Favorite Films of 2024”. IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  18.  “The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)”. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  19.  Vary, Peter Debruge, Murtada Elfadl, Todd Gilchrist, Gregg Goldstein, Paula Hendrickson, Courtney Howard, Angelique Jackson, Brent Simon, Adam B.; Debruge, Peter; Elfadl, Murtada; Gilchrist, Todd; Goldstein, Gregg; Hendrickson, Paula; Howard, Courtney; Jackson, Angelique; Simon, Brent (January 4, 2024). “Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch for 2024: Blitz Bazawule, Cord Jefferson and Anna Kendrick Among Noteworthy Helmers”. Variety. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  20.  Rosser, Michael (January 22, 2024). “Berlin film festival reveals 2024 competition line-up”. ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  21.  Ntim, Zac (February 24, 2024). “Berlin Film Festival: Mati Diop Wins Golden Bear With Documentary ‘Dahomey,’ Emily Watson And Sebastian Stan Take Acting Honors”. Deadline. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  22.  Romero, Miguel Ángel (September 10, 2024). “Sitges 2024 anuncia su programación definitiva: las mejores películas de terror que podremos ver este año”. Cinemanía (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  23.  “57th Edition Award Winners | Sitges Film Festival”. sitgesfilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  24.  “AwardsWatch – 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival Honorees Include Steve McQueen, Karla Sofía Gascón and Sebastian Stan”. AwardsWatch. September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  25.  Goldsmith, Jill (October 29, 2024). “Gotham Awards Nominations: ‘Anora’ Leads Pack, ‘Challengers’ & ‘Nickel Boys’ Among Group Up For Best Feature”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  26.  Goldsmith, Jill; Hipes, Patrick (December 2, 2024). “Gotham Awards: A24’s ‘A Different Man’ Wins Best Feature; ‘Sing Sing’, ‘Nickel Boys’ Also Score – Full Winners List”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  27.  Lewis, Hilary (December 4, 2024). “‘Wicked’ Named Best Film of 2024 by the National Board of Review”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  28.  Richlin, Harrison (December 8, 2024). “‘Anora’ Wins Best Picture from Los Angeles Film Critics Association — Winners List”. IndieWire. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  29.  Neglia, Matt (December 11, 2024). “The 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Winners”. Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  30.  Neglia, Matt (December 16, 2024). “The 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Winners”. Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  31.  Clarke, Donald (December 19, 2024). “Dublin Film Critics Circle awards 2024: The Zone of Interest and Kneecap big winners”. The Irish Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  32.  Neglia, Matt (December 20, 2024). “The 2024 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners”. Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  33.  “AWARDS: Our 2024 Winners”. Greater WNY Film Critics Association. December 29, 2024. Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  34.  Donnelly, Matt; Moreau, Jordan (December 9, 2024). “Golden Globes 2025 Nominations: ‘Emilia Perez’ Dominates Films With 10 Nods; ‘The Bear’ Leads TV With Five”. Variety. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  35.  Neglia, Matt (January 15, 2024). “The 2024 Portland Critics Association (PCA) Winners”. Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  36.  Evans, Greg (December 12, 2024). “Conclave And Wicked Lead Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations – Full List”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  37.  Rice, Lynette (December 17, 2024). “‘Wicked’ & ‘Gladiator II’ Among Film Nominees For 40th Annual Artios Awards; Casting Nods Also Go To ‘Saturday Night’ & ‘Moana 2”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  38.  Pedersen, Erik (December 10, 2024). “Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Nominations: ‘Wicked’, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, ‘Emilia Pérez’ & More”. Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  39.  Schwartz, Missy; Pond, Steve (December 4, 2024). “‘Anora,’ ‘I Saw the TV Glow’ Lead 2025 Indie Spirit Awards Nominations”. The Wrap. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  40.  Arkin, Daniel; Hamedy, Saba (January 23, 2025). “Oscar nominations live updates: See the full list of the 2025 Academy Award nominees”. NBC News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
vteGotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature
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