‘The Art of Self-Defense’ Trailer – Guns Are For the Weak

Jesse Eisenberg‘s new offbeat comedy The Art of Self-Defense has a new trailer from Bleeker Street Media; in it we find mild-mannered Casey (Eisenberg) coming to grips with a very frightening world by taking up karate at a local dojo.

So this is yet another pairing with Imogen Poots, not far ahead of his recent work alongside the Green Room star in Vivarium.

Described by some as a comedy dealing with hypermasculinity, I think there’s some wiggle room in this being a topic-piece seeing as things obviously go somewhat off the rails into absurd territory and disastrous hijinx.

Or not, I’m no expert on the subject; I just know that people who know how to fight their fellow humans if necessary tend to also handle other challenges with more confidence.

Eisenberg seems like a good fit for the role; an everyman of the meeker variety who’s obviously smart, but has never really stopped being bullied; I mean, it’s possible that Michael Cera was already booked and this movie would have taken on a different tone entirely.

The Art of Self-Defense is directed and written by Riley Stearns (Faults) and will also star Alessandro Nivola (You Were Never Really Here), Steve Terada (When the Bough Breaks) and Phillip Andre Botello (Out of Sight, Out of Mind).

Plot Synopsis:

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.

 

The Art of Self-Defense will be kicking onto the screen on  July 12, 2019.

What do you think Wasteoids? Want to find out exactly what’s being taught at that particular dojo?

Hiiiyah-off in the comments below!