Jesse Eisenberg Fights Back in Teaser Trailer for Dark Comedy THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE
We have a cool trailer here for you today for the dark comedy The Art of Self-Defense. Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Zombieland) stars as Casey, a man who decides to take karate after having enough of feeling helpless and scared all the time. I really related to this trailer, as I feel like a woman could have easily fit into the same role. I like seeing it from a man’s perspective. I think maybe men who are not as big and strong, who have possibly been through something traumatic aren’t as accounted for in society. Women don’t have the market cornered on being the only victims of toxic masculinity, and I think this movie looks really interesting as it explores that concept in a darkly comedic tone. Here’s a synopsis provided by Thefilmstage:
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 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. Audacious and offbeat, The Art of Self-Defense is an original dark comedy that takes toxic masculinity to absurd extremes.
Eisenberg is joined by Alessandro Nivola (American Hustle, The Wizard of Lies) as Sensei, Imogen Poots (Need For Speed, That Awkward Moment) as Anna, and Steve Terada, mostly known for his stunt work in movies like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Crank, and MacGruber, as Thomas.
Enjoy the trailer below and let us know if you’ll be catching The Art of Self-Defense when it hits theaters June 21, 2019.