Jesse Eisenberg has proven to be not just a reliable actor but a passionate cinephile who has shown an interest in expanding his work both in front and behind the camera. Eisenberg was often much more versatile than he was given credit for, as evidenced by his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, and has developed into an interesting director with his coming-of-age dramedy When You Finish Saving The World and his Oscar-winning road trip film A Real Pain. Although both directorial efforts pull from a wide range of influences that span the entire course of cinema, Eisenberg says he’s seen the coming-of-age dramedy Submarine more than any other film.
Submarine was directed by Richard Ayoade, a British actor who has played many awkward, self-deprecating, and snarky characters that resemble the type of roles that Eisenberg often plays. The mutual admiration between the two is evident, as Ayoade would go on to cast Eisenberg for dual roles in his dynamic dark comedy thriller The Double. Given Eisenberg’s own experience making coming-of-age films like The Squid and the Whale and Adventureland, it’s not hard to see why he had such admiration for Submarine. Submarine is a sharp, uncomfortable story about a young person trying to survive the social hurdles of adolescence, and can often be painful because of how utterly relatable it is.
What Is ‘Submarine’ About?
Submarine explores the exploits of the teenage outcast Oliver Tate, played in a breakthrough performance by Craig Roberts. Oliver has grown concerned that he has not had the romantic and sexual experiences that are expected of someone his age, and has set his eyes on his classmate Jordana Bevin (Yasmin Paige), whom he is hopelessly in love with. Oliver’s romantic interests come at a time that couldn’t be more chaotic for his family, as his mother, Jill (Sally Hawkins), is having to work overtime to deal with her depressed husband, Lloyd (Noah Taylor). The situation becomes more challenging when Jill begins to see her ex-boyfriend, Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine), a charismatic musician. Even though it’s evident that the adults in his life are just as mal-adjusted as he is, Oliver can’t help but feel that he has to figure everything out in order to avoid life passing him by.
Submarine is a satire of teenage fantasies, as Oliver realizes that life is much more complicated than simply checking off achievements from a list, as this won’t inherently mark his maturation. Although the way Oliver desires the affection of others could be seen as toxic, it’s more than obvious that he does not have any proper guidance on how to behave; Oliver’s classmates often tease him, his parents ignore his sensitivities, and his school is just as oppressive and ignorant as one would expect from public education. Roberts gives a very subtle, quiet performance, as a majority of Oliver’s thoughts are conveyed to the audience through the use of voice-overs, which describe the goals that he has set out for himself. This creates an amusing dichotomy, as it suggests that Oliver is capable of having very deep thoughts, despite being both unwilling and terrified to express himself in public. While there are references to very specific calamities that Oliver deals with amidst his unusual living situation, the notion of being a confused, frustrated teenager is something that any audience would be able to relate to.
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‘Submarine’ Epitomizes Jesse Eisenberg’s Sense of Humor
Eisenberg has often starred in independent dramedies that present a “slice of life” perspective, so it’s easy to see why he would admire what Ayoade does with Submarine. Submarine allows the audience to both laugh at and with Oliver, as while it’s easy to see why he would be compelled to change the way that other people perceive him, it’s hard to deny how ridiculous his actions can be. Although coming-of-age films can struggle if the filmmakers attempt to impose too many values upon their protagonists, Oliver is an effective character because he is capable of making mistakes and ends up embarrassing himself on more than one occasion. The film’s honesty is its greatest virtue, which may have been why Eisenberg was so compelled to work with Ayoade, even if it was on a science fiction film.
Eisenberg followed in Ayoade’s footsteps when he began directing, as his debut film, When You Finish Saving The World, is a cringe-inducing, uncomfortable satire of teenage masculinity that centers on a narcissistic protagonist. Among the faults that many critics had with When You Finish Saving The World is that it may have been too mean-spirited and lacked the wholesome affection for its protagonist that had made Submarine so powerful. Eisenberg was able to amend many of these issues with A Real Pain, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Like Submarine, A Real Pain shows how people choose to cope with emotional burdens in their lives, yet still managed to have a healthy sense of humor.
