This weekend, the new A24 film that breaks the mold and is stunning A different man will have a limited theatrical release, and many fans may discover their new favorite actor. The film stars Sebastian Stan as a disfigured man who is cured by a radical new procedure, but before he can fully enjoy his charm, he meets the charming Adam Pearson, who steals all his newfound glory despite having the same deformity. Pearson's name may be new to some ears, but he's been waiting the entire time to be discovered.
Pearson's unusual appearance, which many first noticed in Under the skinis the result of a condition called neurofibromatosis. So far, this has limited him to roles that reference his illness, but it hasn't affected his impressive range. Between his first film and his last, The 39-year-old actor and activist starred in a dark satire called Chained for lifeand a review of all three roles shows that Pearson is equally good at intense dramas and kick-ass comedies.If audiences are lucky, they will continue to collect opportunities to show the world what they can do.
A Different Man Explores Opposite Experiences with Pearson's Condition
A different man satirizes the way a person can self-destruct if they allow their limitations to define them, something Adam Pearson refuses to do, both on and off screen. In the film, Edward (Sebastian Stan) gets a new lease on life with a high-tech makeover, but his new face masks his old insecurities. He blames his anguish on Oswald (Pearson), whose charisma and seemingly limitless talent win him every opportunity Edward has missed. As their rivalry heats up, Edward's inferiority complex pushes him to extreme conclusions.
In this surreal comedy, Oswald's successes reach ridiculous proportions, but Pearson's performance is no joke. He displays as much real-life magnetism as the fictional Oswald, and a similar amount of versatility; a scene in which he seduces a bar full of strangers (except the desperate Edward) with a sing-song karaoke routine is hilarious in context, but compelling in its own right. Adam Pearson's convincing portrayal of the dashing, sophisticated Renaissance man is what gives Sebastian Stan's performance its comic power.
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Films with stars with disabilities |
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Although Oswald's superiority is exaggerated for effect, director Aaron Schimberg has said that the character bears some resemblance to the witty and optimistic Pearson. Ironically, many viewers assumed he was “playing himself” in their previous collaboration Chained for lifewhere Pearson is more insecure and introverted. Ironically, the suggestion that Pearson was not actually acting has prompted accusations that Schimberg exploited a vulnerable person for his own artistic goals. It is true that entertainment involving visible disabilities can raise complex ethical questions in many cases, but Pearson deserves credit for his art.
Pearson's condition may limit his roles, but not his scope
In 2013, Jonathan Glazer cast Pearson as the victim of the seductive alien Scarlett Johanson in Under the skinPearson plays a downtrodden recluse who is disarmed by the sexual advances of a beautiful stranger. It would be easy to accuse Under the skin of exploitation, especially considering Pearson's nude scene with Johanson, but the actor saw it as an opportunity. His participation could help normalise faces like his, and he got to contribute to a great work of art, as Pearson told The Guardian:
One of the main reasons I took the role was because it was so touching and honest. For me, the film is about what the world looks like without knowledge and without prejudice. I think it's about seeing the world through alien eyes.
In the work of Aaron Schimberg Chained for life (2019), Pearson actually plays the star of a pretentious exploitation film with a diverse cast of actors (many of whom appear in A different man). Rosenthal (Pearson) brings out the worst in his attractive co-stars, who make smug displays of open-mindedness while still treating him like an inferior outsider. Schimberg has a prominent cleft lip and palate and based the shy, awkward Rosenthal on himself, so he was caught off guard by accusations of exploitation from critics who intended to defend Pearson but who had thus undermined his acting abilities.
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Why Representation Matters |
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Between Under the skin AND A different manPearson has appeared on television shows such as The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime AND Eugenics: The Greatest Scandal in ScienceHer ongoing advocacy efforts are complemented by her dramatic performances, not only because the exposure helps normalize her condition, but because her impressive talent pushes viewers to see people with disabilities as individuals and not just symbols of marginalization. Pearson’s success on the big screen is a good thing for diversity, but it’s also a gift for fans of great entertainment.