The Art of Self-Defense

Set in a flat, pale city and spoken in deliberately artificial dialogue, this quirky dark comedy has an unusual rhythm that grows slowly more hilarious, but only for those who manage to tune into it. Given that its moments seem designed to be off-putting on first look -- then funny on subsequent looks --The Art of Self-Defense seems destined to become a cult classic. Written and directed by Riley Stearns, the movie, which is about the myth of masculinity, runs wild with the idea that there is no real, true definition of what's "masculine," and characters who try to nail it down are made to look ridiculous. The idea works (and stays funny) all the way to the end, even as Casey makes his own drastic transformation.

Anna is the wisest addition to the movie; she's a woman who's both tougher and cleverer than the men around her, but she still labors under rules invented by men. She wants to attain the level of black belt, but Sensei continuously denies it, claiming that she's not "man" enough. But the perfectly cast Eisenberg is the movie's key; he fits this role like a comfortable karate gi, fearlessly embracing an inner weakness and making it all the more satisfying when confidence comes shining through. (The Art of Self-Defense would make a great double bill with another excellent Eisenberg black comedy, The Double.) It won't appeal to everyone, but this is a solid pick for those seeking something a little different.