November 22, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Perry Seibert, Michigan Movie Critics Guild for this week's Talking Pictures. “A Real Pain,” directed by Jesse Eisenberg in his directorial debut, is a modest character-driven film that follows two cousins, Davers and his troubled cousin played by Kieran Culkin, during a trip to Poland. The narrative centers on their contrasting personalities and how they deal with the recent death of their grandmother. Eisenberg’s character is reserved and anxious, while Culkin’s is outgoing and disruptive, showcasing a dynamic contrast between the two. Culkin delivers a deep and charming performance, building on his experience from roles like his Emmy-winning part in “Succession.”