The best way to play a free-spirited man who gets under his cousinβs skin is not to prepare at all, says Kieran Culkin.
βYou never quite know whatβs gonna come out of him and I didnβt want to plan that ahead of time,β he says.
In βA Real Pain,β heβs the cousin whoβs untethered, outspoken and, often, a real pain to his more structured relative, played by Jesse Eisenberg. The stance rankles, of course, but thatβs part of their journey. The two are on a trip to Poland where they hope to honor their late grandmother. Unfortunately, the two havenβt been in much contact and live wildly different lives.
Eisenberg, who also wrote and directed the film, is a lot like his character, David. Ditto: Culkin and his Benji.
Kieran Culkin, left, and Jesse Eisenberg play cousins in "A Real Pain."
High anxiety
At one point during filming, Eisenberg came to his co-star and admitted βhe was having a lot of anxiety about me. And I was like, βTrust me. When we get there, Iβll know the words. I can look at it literally on the walk to the set. Iβve read it. Itβs in the back of my brain somewhere. Itβs fine. I got it.β And that gave him more anxiety.β
While Eisenberg considered playing Culkinβs role, he was quickly talked out of it by producer Emma Stone because βheβs so right for David.β
Clip for 'A Real Pain' starring Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Olha Bosova, Banner Eisenberg, Jakub Gasowski
Still, that didnβt ease the directorβs mind. When the two talked about the stress, Eisenberg asked Culkin, βDid you think you and I were going to be alike?β
And Culkin said, βGod no.β And Eisenberg said, βI did.β
βThat was a big one for him,β the βSuccessionβ star says. βHe thought: similar actors, similar age. We talk fast. Same sensibility. Weβll have the same approach. But when his anxieties went through the roof, (mine) didnβt. I got to rely on a great script and just say the words.β
Attention paid
The on-screen friction is making βA Real Painβ an early candidate for awards attention. Culkinβs free-wheeling approach has him in the hunt for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Even though he won an Emmy for the last season of βSuccession,β the 42-year-old father of two wasnβt interested in following up the seriesβ run with a movie. Rest, in fact, was paramount. βA Real Pain,β however, got pushed up and he was quickly on a plane to Poland. He thought about bringing his wife and children on the shoot but βkids being like 1 and 3 wouldβve been a nightmare for all of them,β Culkin says. He faced the work alone and realized, βIt was really, really hard but Iβm very, very, very glad I got to do the movie.β
While on a trip to Poland, cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin, left) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) try to find common ground in "A Real Pain."Β
Because Culkin was familiar with Eisenbergβs work, he was sure heβd be in good hands. βAll I gotta do is take this brilliant writing and just do it with this guy who happens to be a good, competent actor who obviously understands the scenes because he wrote them.β
Eisenberg, he says, turned out to be a fantastic director who was very inclusive. βI knew I had a voice when it came to my character, but he also was willing to hear my opinion about other things. He wants to know what people think β¦. heβs curious. It felt like we were all making this film.β
Just like...
When Culkin got to see the finished product at the Sundance Film Festival, his wife leaned over and said the name of a friend β someone who could have been a reference for Benji. βAnd I went, βYouβre totally right.β That must have been on my mind. I just sort of compartmentalized it and tucked it away somewhere.β
What appealed to the actor was the characterβs spontaneity. "Just when you feel like youβve got a sense of who this guy isβ¦he says something completely different, and it can be read at many different temperatures.β
Zombieland star Jesse Eisenberg, 41, who wrote, directed and stars in the film A Real Pain plays David opposite Succession actor Kieran Culkin as his cousin Benji.
While Eisenberg thought he might be able to play Benji, Culkin knows he couldnβt have played David. βI couldnβt sit in my skin and feel comfortable as David,β he says. βI donβt think I would watch that movie simply for my performance as David being boring as hell.β
Now, Culkin says, he can see David and Benji as kids. βI know where they came from and how theyβve gotten this way, which says something huge about the writing.β
"A Real Pain" opens throughout the country in November.Β
Trailer for 'A Real Pain' starring Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Olha Bosova, Banner Eisenberg, Jakub Gasowski
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller
Movies in a Minute: We Live in Time
UpdatedMovies in a Minute: Smile 2
UpdatedMovies in a Minute: "Saturday Night"
Is "Saturday Night," a genesis story of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," the best movie of the year? Sioux City Journal entertainment editor Bruce Miller says it's a contender.
Movies in a Minute: "Joker: Folie `a Deux"
UpdatedSioux City Journal entertainment editor Bruce Miller says "Joker: Folie `a Deux," a music-filled movie, was a good idea, but it had nowhere to go.
Movies in a Minute: "Megalopolis"
UpdatedSioux City Journal entertainment reporter Bruce Miller says "Megalopolis" is "classic, removed and, at times, overdone." (and those are his nice comments)
Movies in a Minute: "Transformers One"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Transformers One" is an origins story that details how the whole idea came about. The film looks good, runs less than two hours and doesnβt make you feel like youβve entered some strange new world.
Movies in a Minute: "Speak No Evil"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Speak No Evil" is visually messy and disjointed. It becomes one of those horror films that makes you want to scream at the screen.
Movies in a Minute: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice"
UpdatedSioux City Journal entertainment editor Bruce Miller says that when Beetlejuice, Michael Keatonβs crazy-haired bio-exorcist, appears all is right in the crazy world of this sequel to 1988's "Beetlejuice." But be forewarned - if you're not familiar with the original movie, you may have some catching up to do.
Movies in a Minute: "Reagan"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Reagan" squeezes too much drama into one film. It's a CliffsNotes approach to history just hitting the highlights and quickly moving on.
Movies in a Minute: "Blink Twice"
UpdatedSioux City Journal entertainment reporter Bruce Miller says if you put a bunch of people on an island just about anything can happen..... and, in "Blink Twice," it does.
Movies in a Minute "Alien: Romulus"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Alien: Romulus" isnβt afraid to throw in a good olβ popcorn surprise when you least expect it. You donβt have to know a thing about the earlier βAlienβ films to enjoy this one.
Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "It Ends with Usβ becomes yet another protracted romance in which no one is honest and open. Itβs an OK relationship drama, it just didnβt need more than two hours to make its point.
Movies in a Minute: "Trap"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Trap" is an interesting concept, particularly since it plays on understandable fears.
Movies in a Minute: "Deadpool & Wolverine"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Deadpool & Wolverine" is the Marvel film for everyone who has grown weary of superheroes and their overly long stories. Teaming with Jackman was a brilliant move. The yin and yang of the new Marvel Universe can take on everyone and still manage a smirk.
Movies in a Minute: "Twisters"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Twisters" whips up plenty of action to be one of the best movies this summer.
Movies in a Minute "Maxxxine"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Maxxxine" doesnβt accomplish much or really scare. Itβs a visual treat but a scary movie dud. Itβs merely an attempt for a director to walk in otherβs shoes, not blaze new trails.
Movies in a Minute "Despicable Me 4"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Despicable Me 4" is all over the map, looking for something to stick. Itβs fine for those with short attention spans but for everyone else itβs a mess to sort out.
Movies in a Minute "A Quiet Place: Day One"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says the joy of "A Quiet Place: Day One" is how well Lupita Nyongβo conveys every emotion without words. Sheβs a wonderful actress who makes you care about her, her cat and the law student, played by Joseph Quinn. When theyβre in danger, weβre in danger. When theyβre exhaling, weβre exhaling.
Movies in a Minute: "Thelma"
UpdatedSioux City Journal entertainment critic Bruce Miller says that while the action in βThelmaβ may not be all that realistic, itβs highly entertaining and just the ticket for audiences tired of three-part dramas.
Movies in a Minute: "Inside Out 2"
UpdatedMovies in a Minute "Bad Boys: Ride or Die"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" doesnβt try to deliver big messages, it's just a lot of fun.
Movies in a Minute: "Jim Henson Idea Manβ
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "βJim Henson Idea Manβ shows how the puppeteer created the Muppets and Sesame Street. βIdea Manβ scratches at the surface of Jim Henson. It just doesnβt dig into the felt.
Movies in a Minute: "Summer Camp"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says βSummer Campβ doesnβt have a spark that could start a fire.
Movies in a Minute: "The Blue Angels"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "The Blue Angels" documentary shows us what itβs like to be the best of the best. For fans of air shows, itβs a great βrest of the storyβ production.
Movies in a Minute: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" includes the best motion capture performance weβve seen and, easily, the reason this film works so well. No matter how many βPlanet of the Apesβ films youβve seen, this is the one to embrace.
Movies in a Minute: "The Fall Guy"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "The Fall Guy" rolls out every jaw-dropping stunt possible and manages to pull the curtain back on the movie industry.
Movies in a Minute: "Challengers"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Challengers" is a smart love fest for fans of tennis. The film is a closer than usual look at the emotional toll the game takes. When the action starts, weβre curious how itβs going to play out.
Movies in a Minute: "Abigail"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says that if you get an invitation to dinner from "Abigail" just say it got lost in the mail. She's a messy eater.
Movies in a Minute: "Civil War"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Civil War" seems like a film designed to scare audiences into attention.
Movies in a Minute: "Monkey Man"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Monkey Man" never sits still. The film is full of extreme close-up shots which are impossible to ignore and, often, easy to misread.
Movies in a Minute: "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" isnβt as good as previous mashups, but this, you might say, is the βOppenheimerβ of the monsterverse.
Movies in a Minute: "Late Night With the Devil"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Late Night With the Devil" toys with its audience and plays out much like an old-school talk show.
Movies in a Minute: "Snack Shack"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Snack Shack" is Profane, constantly in motion and very retro. Itβs the vacation you didnβt think you needed but sure were glad you took.
Movies in a Minute: "Cabrini"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Cabrini" is a noble look at the patron saint of immigrants, Frances Cabrini. The film reminds us there is not an even playing field then β or now. Itβs a stirring message at this time of year.
Movies in a Minute "Dune: Part Two"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Dune: Part Two" plops you in the middle of the action and never slows up. This sequel is beautifully photographed and powerfully scored.
Movies in a Minute: "Drive-Away Dolls"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Drive-Away Dolls" is isnβt as complete as youβd like it to be but it does have moments and isnβt afraid to let familiar faces play unfamiliar roles.
Movies in a Minute "Bob Marley: One Love"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Bob Marley: One Love" has plenty of music and a subdued vibe but it doesnβt tell us a lot about the reggae legend himself. The film leaves out plenty of key information β the kind of stuff a fan would like to know.
Movies in a Minute: "Lisa Frankensteinβ
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says βLisa Frankensteinβ is a light romp in a dark, dark world. But it could have been a wild wallow in an era that was packed with possibilities.
Movies in a Minute: βThe Greatest Night in Popβ
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says βThe Greatest Night in Popβ is a wonderful slice of history that shows what happens when stars check their egos at the door and produce something iconic.
Movies in a Minute: "Poor Things"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Poor Things" may be one of the most bizarre films of the year, but it's also a springboard for some of the best acting work of the year.
Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller
UpdatedSandra Huller, who stars in two Best Picture nominees, "Anatomy of a Fall," and "The Zone of Interest," is also nominated for Best Actress for her role in the former. Movie critic Bruce Miller calls Huller's performances incredible and says her Best Actress nomination is one of the most deserving honors of the year.
Movies in a Minute: "Mean Girls"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Mean Girls" has a problem with the translation to the big screen. Here, itβs darker and, somehow, more serious.
Movies in a Minute: "Anyone But You"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Anyone But You" isnβt as fun or as snarky as you want it to be. Itβs just a chance for it stars to try something new without making a huge mistake.
Movies in a Minute: "The Color Purple"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "The Color Purple" is an all-singing all-dancing extravaganza that sometimes overshadows the story of Celie, but it's a powerful film that packs a punch.
Movies in a Minute: "The Iron Claw"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "The Iron Claw" is a fascinating slice of life that suggests all the fame in the world may look great but it canβt replace a little parental love.
Movies in a Minute: "Wonka"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Wonka,β the prequel to βWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,β is just as delightful as the original.
Movies in a Minute: "May December"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "May December" goes deeper than any investigative story and hurts more than a well-timed social media post.
Movies in a Minute: "Wish"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says Disney's "Wish" has so many mediocre references to past animated films it canβt help but pale in comparison.
Movies in a Minute: "Next Goal Wins"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Next Goal Wins" is largely a matter of how you define βwinning.β Unfortunately, the story is so scattered itβs hard to find the momentum.
Movies in a Minute: "The Marvels"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "The Marvels" is not very interesting. The three crime fighters take on a baddie looking for a second bracelet but universal domination shouldnβt be the goal of everyone in a superhero movie.
Movies in a Minute: "The Holdovers"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "The Holdovers" is a holiday movie with some rougher edges. Despite being bathed in the glow of nostalgia, βThe Holdoversβ is brutally real about human relationships.
Movies in a Minute: "Five Nights at Freddy's"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Five Nights at Freddy's" is like something youβd find on Nickelodeon over Halloween weekend. It isn't a chilling gore fest. It tests the nerves but it doesnβt fry the brain.
Movies in a Minute "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" is spectacular and easy to watch, though it may be a long sit for some viewers. Swift's lyrics hit the target right in the heart.
Movies in a Minute: "Killers of the Flower Moon"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Killers of the Flower Moonβ is true cinema. Itβs art in its highest form that never fails to entertain.
Movies in a Minute: "The Exorcist: Believer"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller calls the "The Exorcist: Believer" a respectful reboot but definitely not a head turner.
Movies in a Minute: "Fair Play"
UpdatedMovie critic Bruce Miller says "Fair Play" is easily one of the most compelling films of the year.
