JASON EVANS' 100 WORD REVIEWS: The Art of Self-Defense

Courtesy of Bleeker Street

It was the famed architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe who coined the phrase, "Less is more." Atlanta film critic Jason Evans is taking that notion to heart as he embarks on an effort to tell you everything you need to know about movies in exactly 100 words. His latest 100 word review: The Art of Self-Defense.

The Premise: Casey Davies (Jesse Eisenberg) is afraid of the world around him. After he is mugged by a biker gang one night, he decides to become more of a man by taking up karate. The Sensei (Alessandro Nivola) at the local karate studio is intense and unforgiving, but Casey soon becomes a prized pupil. This quirky, dark comedy also stars Imogen Poots as a karate instructor.

The 100 words: If you are into slightly strange films that make you laugh and make you think, you won't want to miss this flick. Featuring some truly memorable performances, The Art of Self Defense is a bit like Fight Club without quite as much mayhem or surprises. It wanted to send a message about toxic masculinity, but the message gets lost in the high jinks late in the film. Still, I found myself howling with laughter and utterly engrossed in the characters, especially Eisenberg’s transformation from cowardice to confidence. A truly original film, something we find all too infrequently in today’s Hollywood.