Nov 13: Confessions of a Superhero

"Chronicles the lives of four mortal men and women who work as characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard."

Directed by: Matthew Ogens, Rated: R, 92 minutes

I really don't know why I have been on a documentary run lately. Maybe it's my unofficial way of tying in my blogathon for November- The Shoes They Wear Blogathon, dealing with biopics (both fictional and based in reality), or maybe it's my simple curiosity. Either way, Confessions of a Superhero, the latest documentary on my agenda, helps fulfill that curiosity and gives a little peek into who many people call "psychos"- street performers. The documentary doesn't focus on the street musicians or sideshows, but on those walking up and down Hollywood Boulevard dressed as superheroes.

With great power comes... great publicity? 

Confessions of a Superhero focuses on four individuals. Christopher Davis is known around the country as THE Superman impersonator, looking a lot like the late Christopher Reeve and completely putting himself into the character. Davis is obsessed with Superman and not only dresses like him every day, but knows every bit of trivia concerning the character and collecting as much memorabilia as possible. Maximus Allen is a George Clooney lookalike that dresses up as Batman every day. He's a man with a shadowy past and an even worse temper, and does the superhero gig as a side job as he focuses on his martial arts skills, hoping to be a security guard (as well as an actor). Jennifer Wenger is a small town girl from Tennessee who, just like every young woman, dreams of making it big in Hollywood. She takes on the persona of Wonder Woman, showing off just enough skin to be sexy but never like a whore. She's innocent and also struggling, with her personal life (her shotgun marriage is messy) and her own self image. Joe McQueen is the Hulk. Putting up with stifling heat every day (the inside of his suit can reach 130 degrees), McQueen is genuinely confident in his ability. He's incredibly hard working and even when he was homeless for  four years, he never gave up on an audition. All four of these individuals are desperate to make it big, as is everyone in Hollywood.

Believe it or not, it takes a lot more than being rich and getting f**ked on camera to be a "celebrity". 

Confessions of a Superhero never seeks out to insult these people. However, each character is rather eccentric and "extra" unique, and while they don't make themselves look like fools, you're left questioning their sanity a bit, especially that of Davis. Davis fully believes he is the son of Sandy Davis, a Tony and Oscar winning actress. He's constantly in character and costume, and his obsession with the Man of Steel borders on delusional. He's a good man at heart and his intentions are good, but he seems to have lost a bit of his mind through his adventure in the cape. Maximus Allen, however, isn't as delusional. He's a man that did bad things in the past (enforcer for the mob) and it haunts him. He loses his temper far too quickly and can become very violent. It's a shame too because he seems like a genuinely stand up guy and the moments he reveals his past show that he's more troubled than you would imagine. Wenger's story isn't as emotional as the other two, as she really had it all growing up. Beautiful and sweet, she had everything, from prom queen title to all the attention. However, she's still cute enough that you want to see her succeed, even if thousands of other girls are exactly like her pursuing the same dream. Last comes McQueen. Confessions of a Superhero doesn't focus on him as much as you'd like, because his story really is the most "rags to somewhat riches" tale, and the hardships he has had to overcome are greater than anything we've faced. He's a shining hope in this somber story, as no matter what he's suffered through, he shows great optimism and you only pray that he'll catch a break.

HULK SMASH SAD STORY!

Confessions of a Superhero is a prime example of solid storytelling that's intertwined with great looks into these people's lives. As I mentioned, it never is out to insult its subjects, but give us a better understanding of these people we'd normally dismiss as crazy. The documentary does a decent job at sharing the screen time between the four heroes, but does tend to lean in favor of Davis as Superman. He's not necessarily unlikable, but there's something about him that throws you off, and you wonder if he needs to seek some help or if just needs to continue looking for his spot in the world. The movie is sad at times, but has a single strand of optimism that's strung through it, leaving you somewhat satisfied at its conclusion. While I am far from a fan of dressing up (even for Halloween), the effort these individuals put into their 'work' is admirable. Confessions of a Superhero has its flaws (as do the heroes) but it's still a pretty good documentary that tells the tale of Hollywood Boulevard's most recognizable, recognizable characters.

The Good:

hearing stories that are more than just "young talent seeking big break" and helps unravel the complicated and unpredictable parts about looking for fame

The Bad:

a little too much focus on Superman, while the other characters have slightly more interesting stories

The Ugly:

wondering how many people are out in Los Angeles, doing God knows what for a dollar

Overall: 7.0/10

Discussion Question:

Would you have the energy or the drive to stand outside all day, in costume, to make a living? 

Trailer:

Nov 12: The American Scream

"An original documentary which follows three families in a small seaside town in Massachusetts as they prepare for their annual home made haunted houses..."

Directed by: Michael Stephenson, Rated: NR, 91 minutes

I have never been the biggest fans of haunted houses. Pop out scares are mostly cheesier than anything else and half the time, the effort put into them isn't big enough to really make me shake in my boots. However, the very elaborate haunts with so much attention to detail are something I can appreciate. Haunting has become an art in this day and age and the cheap scares aren't always the ticket to a successful horror house and a hell of a lot of time, money, and creativity is needed to be something memorable. The American Scream is a documentary that tells the story of multiple people looking to make the perfect haunted house and their struggles and sacrifices to get things done.

New England family creating a haunted "pahty" for Halloween. 

In a small town in Massachusetts, three families look forward to Halloween more than any other day of the year. Victor Bariteau is an IT guy at an investment firm. He didn't grow up with Halloween, Christmas or even celebrating Birthdays, so he puts all of his attention into an elaborate haunted house. He dreams big, hoping to become a "professional haunter" one day, and his family stands behind him reluctantly. Mathew and Richard Brodeur are part-time clowning father and son, who don't have a lot of money but put a lot of imagination into their scares, just to give the kids something fun. Manny Souza is another family man that sets up a haunted house every year because it's simply a hobby. He's not obsessed as the other two parties and the majority of his contraptions, figures, and scares are made of recycled material he finds on the side of the road or in dumpsters. Large displays cost him only eight dollars and he does it all for the fun of it.

Clearly, these are the clowns. 

The American Scream showcases all three of these stories, throwing in bits of back-story here and there. Never does director Michael Stephenson insult his subject's behavior, and as the audience we just take a look at the buildup to Halloween and then, the eventual scares. When you go through a haunted house, you never think about the work that's actually put into the effects and creatures, and The American Scream shows the building process of a lot of that. It also shows the tolls certain obsessions take upon men and their families. Some of it's sad, but you can kind of understand where they're coming from. However, the documentary never feels that special. Sure, the details shown aren't what most people see nor even think about, but there's just something missing from the film that leaves you wanting more. Either way, it's a nice look into the lives of people you wouldn't normally even think to talk to and breaks down a community that gathers together to get scared. Each haunter knows the other and although they mention each other, I would have liked to have seen scenes shared between them, talking scares and what not. Although I'm little late, this would have been a great film to watch for Halloween and while I won't be running to see it again each year, I'd still recommend checking out The American Scream.

The Good:

seeing how the scares are built and appreciating the work and imagination each house has behind it

The Bad:

the film lacks something you can't quite pinpoint and leaves you wishing for a bit more, be it more scares or more charm

The Ugly:

just thinking about how much money is thrown at each project and that six months of work go out the window after just one night

Overall: 6.8/10

Discussion Question:

Are you a fan of haunted houses? Have you ever hosted one yourself?

Trailer:

Nov 9: Fall From Grace

"The shocking story of Rev. Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church, those who oppose it, and those who chose to leave it all behind."

Directed by: K. Ryan Jones, Rated: NR, 71 minutes

Just like my previous review of Jesus Camp, this review of Fall From Grace, another controversial documentary that treads into territories, that will certainly inspire conflicting conversation. However, this time around I don't think you need to be a full believer in God, or a fan of religion to know that the topic of this film, Fred Phelps and his family, are terrible, terrible people. Fall From Grace is a documentary that sets out to understand the lives of Phelps, his family, and his church, The Westboro Baptist Church, and try to come to a conclusion as to where their hate comes from and what their message is all about. It's an unflinching portrait of a man that was simply overlooked by God in the creation process and his motive and mission to remind the world, especially the United States, of its impending doom at the hands of homosexuals.

"Ye with black souls shall be turned away at the pearly gates" Nick 5:14

As some of you may know, Fred Phelps is behind the picketing of soldier's funerals, the protesting at any event related to homosexuality, and the continued sign-holding of posters littered with offensive words and derogatory terms. He's a man driven by, what he says, the mission of God and he utilizes the Bible and his own family to spread his word of hate. Quoting scripture to fit around his own beliefs and pulling chunks out from here and there (none in relation to what the book actually states), Phelps has created a cult, made up of entirely his own family (60+ members) that all believe the hate he has planted in each and every one of them. Director K. Ryan Jones attempts to understand where such evil and wicked behavior stems from, and in Fall From Grace's moments of peeking into the secret life of Phelps and his family, we witness a terrifying world. Phelps has 13 children himself (four have defected from the Church and have "excommunicated" themselves from the family) and even more grandchildren. Each of these people, including the kids, have been brainwashed by Fred's hate and take up the church's flag with pride. Even the kids, who know very little about the subject matter of which the protesting is about, fully believe that homosexuals are the filth of the earth and that they will burn in hell for destroying America. It's incredibly depressing to see such young kids carrying the banner of hate and it makes you feel sorry for them and their upbringing.

I mean, f**k. This is just too much...

Fall From Grace's mission is not to have you sympathize with Phelps, but give you a first-hand look at the man and his family. The man is a terrible piece of shit and deserves no attention, and luckily this film interweaves interviews him with other Christian pastors, leaders, and regular people who have encountered the Phelps family. Its in these little interviews that we are painted a picture of the devastation Phelps and his family have wrecked on the U.S and how their protesting has given Christians, as a whole, a bad image. It's a documentary that's hard to watch, and really doesn't teach you anything new, as much as it reaffirms your own disgust for the Westboro Baptist Church. It's baffling that these individuals think that they are not only the savior of the people, but that they will get first class tickets to Heaven. They are worse than criminals and the loop holes they burrow through only adds to the level of filth. Only watch Fall From Grace if you're curious, as it will only lead to more frustration. 

The Bad, The Ugly, The Worst:

Fred Phelps, his family, and his church

Overall: 6.5/10

Discussion Question:

Free Speech is one of the biggest rights this country is founded on, but should there be limitations to that and an accepted courtesy that should be enforced as well?

Trailer:

Nov 1: This Film is Not Yet Rated

"Kirby Dick's exposé about the American movie ratings board."

Directed by: Kirby Dick, Rated: UR, 97 minutes

This Film Is Not Yet Rated is an eye-opening documentary about the inner workings of the MPAA, the group of people that decide the ratings of every major motion picture from studio blockbusters, to indie darlings. It leaves you incredibly frustrated with a broken system that was set up in 1966 with a main mission to avoid censorship, yet has managed to turn itself into a regulating body that does exactly that in its own twisted way. It's a documentary that takes a side but, when the facts of the argument are presented, it's incredibly easy to join the fight. Oh, and it's also incredibly funny as the ridiculousness of the entire system is so laughable. 

You realize how much this movie gets away with. 

Director Kirby Dick is out on a mission to expose the MPAA rating system for what it is- an understated, unfair, and way too secretive board that has way too much power. The MPAA has been known to actually ruin filmmakers and their work, as getting slapped with an NC-17 rating for an up and coming filmmaker is a near death sentence. The film compares ratings for multiple films and tries to explain what justifies a PG-13, R, or NC-17 rating. Dick compares big studio releases with far smaller indie films and shows that if you have money behind the production, you're sure to get by with much, much more. Intertwined with Dick's own investigation into the MPAA (with the help of a very enthusiastic private investigator) are interviews with filmmakers who have experienced critical issues with the MPAA and their own appeals for the system.

Founding president of the MPAA, Jack Valenti is one of the most self-obsessed arrogant son of a bitches I have ever seen. 

This Film is Not Yet Rated challenges and exposes a system that's well past its expiration date. It literally leaves you floored with what films have gotten away with and leaves you wondering what films had to have been scrapped entirely by an unfair rating slapped upon it. Dick does a terrific job at challenging the system and breaks it down for all of us to understand and fight against. It's a film that exposes so many secrets of the MPAA, the board will never be what it used to be and the demands placed upon it require scrambling from the corrupt process. It's a real eye-opening documentary and I think it completely does what it has set out to do. Realistically, change will not happen over night, nor has a lot been changed in the six years since this film's release, but it's a good jump-start in the right direction. It also gives a greater insight to the film-making process and the loops filmmakers need to jump through in order to get the product, that they work so hard on, out to the public. It gives you an added appreciation for the things that they do and makes you admire them even more. I would highly recommend this doc and hope that more changes the film suggests happen sooner than later.

The Good:

the work Kirby Dick and his team go about to expose the MPAA is admirable and the secrets that uncover are things no one has known about before

The Bad:

knowing that such an out-dated system still holds so much power in Hollywood and that the people behind it are not publicly known

The Ugly:

not knowing if huge changes will ever happen and if the system can fix itself before more damage is done

7.6/10

Discussion Question:

If you were to set up your own rating system, how would you go about it and what factors would you consider?

Trailer:

Oct 14: Indie Game: The Movie

"A documentary that follows the journeys of indie game developers as they create games and release those works, and themselves, to the world."

Directed by: James Swirsky & Lisanne Pajot, Rated: NR, 94 minutes

I'm a nerd. I'm a gamer. I'm even a loner at times. Sometimes I feel that throwing myself into a virtual world is more entertaining than the real thing and I'm not afraid to admit that. I've played World of Warcraft, I love Final Fantasy, and I've put in plenty of hours of Call of Duty in. I've pretend to be sick for school, so I could stay home all day and play video games. I've been to midnight releases. And, I love being around other gamers, nerds, geeks, and what not. They understand me, I'm comfortable around them, and I have more than just a love of games in common with them. Indie Game: The Movie showcases a handful of nerds who just want to make their own games and even though they're advanced programmers and geniuses with a computer, at the heart of their struggle is the same things I've gone through and more. 

I'll even admit that if I go a few days without shaving, I join the elite class of Neckbeards, like Edmund here. 

Indie Game: The Movie follows two sets of game developers- the guys behind Super Meat Boy and the dudes making FEZ, two indie hits that have since become quite the phenomenon in the gaming world. Tommy Refenes and Edmund McMillen are both programmers who have dabbled in the smallest of flash games and online games all of their lives. Hardcore gamers themselves, they decided to take a chance at their own hit, Super Meat Boy, the followup to a popular flash game made popular on Newgrounds.com. Both have locked themselves away from the world, putting their entire focus on the game, knowing it's a make or break situation for them. Tommy appears to be the one that's given up the most as he's sacrificed his entire social life for the game, knowing that something had to go in order to make this happen. With deadlines, pressure, and expectations biting at their heels, the two work day and night to finish their product. Both men talk about their own personal struggles and admit that if the game were to fail, they'd give hope on almost everything, seeing all of their time, effort, and money go to waste. The other developer is Philip Fish, a man who's been working on the same game- FEZ, for nearly five years. This guy has given up everything for the game and has been through it all to get where he is. He's so dedicated to the finishing of FEZ that he states clearly in the film if he was unable to complete it, he'd kill himself. 

A scene where Edmund discusses one of his first games, Aether, is actually hard to watch, as the man put so much into it. 

Both groups of people may sound like basket cases waiting for tragedy, but Indie Game: The Movie makes you sympathize with them, feeling their pain and understanding their dilemmas. They're incredibly nice guys and extremely hard-working, and you never really question the lengths they will go for their creations. Tommy looks like a shell of a man and you can see the wear and tear the past couple of years have on him. Edmund is the likable geek we all know, with a nerdy wife, a love for bad horror movies, and an enthusiasm about his industry we all have to some extent. Fish is the trickiest of the three as at first he appears to be some mad genius wanting to take over the world, one game at a time. But as the layers of him begin to peel away, we see a man devastated with his own creation, feeling not only obsessed but trapped, knowing that the anticipation he's built needs to be delivered upon. The way Indie Game plays out is genuine, never making fun of its subjects nor their careers. The documentary does touch upon the actual making of independent video games and the process of creating and promoting them, but the real focus is the men behind the iconic characters, combos, kills, and puzzles. 

 

Never has a block of meat looked so cute (and fun to play!)

I would highly recommend Indie Game: The Movie. It's really one of the best documentaries I have seen in a long time and really makes you appreciate the work that goes into each and every game we download, buy, or rent. The smallest of creations can sometimes be the greatest and when the market is continually saturated with big-budget, big-studio games that have thousands, we tend to forget about the little guys. Indie Game gives those guys a chance in the spotlight and we see that they're struggling to do what they love. But, in that we have to give them recognition because not all of us would have the commitment to sacrifice so much of our lives to do such a thing. Even if you're not a fan of video games (shame on you!), there's much to appreciate with Indie Game: The Movie and I would highly recommend checking it out as soon as you can. 

The Good:

a look at the development of games... something not a lot of people know about (in comparison to movies)

The Better:

seeing genuinely heart-wrenching (and warming) stories about real guys with real ambition

The Best:

now having an entirely new list of titles I need to play as soon as possible

The Oscar Chances:

Best Documentary (I wish...)

Overall: 8.8/10

Trailer:

Sept 24: Mansome

"A documentary that explores the question: In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, and grooming products galore - what does it mean to be a man?"

Directed by: Morgan Spurlock, Rated: PG-13, 82 minutes

I've always been a fan of Morgan Spurlock. Ever since his breakout documentary, Super Size Me, I've followed the guy and all of his work. From his TV show, 30 Days, to even his lesser known (and liked) docs, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, I've liked his work. His newest film, Mansome is far from his best, but still is very entertaining as a whole. While it is an incredibly short, flawed, and confused little documentary, there are still a handful of laughs and much to discuss. 

You can't say Mansome without the Old Spice guy. 

The documentary discusses what it means to be a man. Breaking the doc into segments like "Mustaches" and "Beards", each bit discusses a particular manly feature and its significance in the world, what's okay and what's not cool, and wonders how much time and effort should be put into each. The film follows a couple of rather eccentric men, from a competitive "beardsman" (who's absolutely crazy and full of himself), to men who try way, way too hard to look good and end up looking like vain fools obsessed with every little detail.  Between each segment, we see Jason Bateman and Will Arnett (who co-produced the film) having their own pamper time at a spa, discussing what it means to be a man and continually trying to out-man the other guy. Along with these two stars, Spurlock also interviews other comedians, like Judd Apatow, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, and Adam Carolla. 

This guy is one of the most arrogant douche bags I've seen, and Spurlock rewards him with 15 minutes of screen time. 

The problem with the film is that it never knows where to go. The film's segments make sense at first, but then as you realize the whole premise behind the title goes out the window. Going in, I was expecting the movie to discuss the entire "metrosexual" phenomena that has plagued mankind in the past decade or so, talking about hair products and going to the spa more so then beards and facial hair. Without this focus, Mansome just jumps around all over the place and turns into a rather forced, sometimes funny documentary. The subjects Spurlock decided to focus on are at times, the most annoying self-involved people I've ever seen and instead of almost poking fun at them in a spoof-haha kind of way, he lets them be on screen doing whatever they want for way too long. Bateman and Arnett's presence also is very out of place. Sure, they're funny and I could watch them talk to each other for ages, but for the most time it feels forced and even more so out of place. As their bits could have been used as a quasi-narration, they turn into almost scripted pieces that don't fit in with the rest of the doc at all. One thing I did really enjoy, however, are the small interviews Spurlock does with random people, standing in front of a simple white screen, talking about facial hair, waxing, and what it takes to be a real man. These moments are very enjoyable and feel the least bit scripted, as opposed to large portions of the rest of the film. 

Arrested Development needs to come back... NOW

Even with it's flaws, the film is worth checking out. If you can get past the fact it's all just jumbled together in a very short run-time, and just watch it for a couple of laughs, you'll have a great time. If, however, you go into Mansome thinking that it's going to be some message ridden doc, full of mind-blowing facts or looks into the world of being a man, you'll be highly mistaken. Most of the movie feels like short stand-up bits strung together with seasoned comedians thrown in to spice things up a bit. While the insight of some of our favorite funny guys would seem to be more than something we'd welcome, it takes a lot away from the film. Mansome has a great idea behind it, but it's execution is just too choppy and messy to really enjoy. 

The Good:

moments of brilliance that are not only laugh-out-loud funny, but make you wonder about your own 'grooming' habits

The Bad:

those same moments almost immediately washed away by stories no one cares about and the realization Spurlock is giving screen time to people far deserving of it

The Ugly:

knowing that a great premise like this could have produced a much better documentary, had there been a stronger focus and better narrative

Overall: 6.3/10

Sept 17: Jiro Dreams of Sushi

"A documentary on 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, his business in the basement of a Tokyo office building, and his relationship with his son and eventual heir, Yoshikazu."

Directed by: David Gelb, Rated: PG, 81 minutes

Call it a coincidence or a possible theme week starting but here's my second documentary review in two days. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a little, very simple doc that takes a look at the world of sushi, specifically focusing on Jiro Ono, a man many consider to be the greatest sushi chef alive. While I am not a fan of the dish, I respect it's popularity as well as the fact it is quite the craft, with Jiro being a masterful artist. The film doesn't have a lot of depth to it as it merely just focuses on Jiro and his sons, but it's done so beautifully that it turns into a wonderful portrait of a man who's been dishing out sushi for over seventy years. 

He looks intimidating but you really just want to give him a big hug. 

Jiro Ono is 85 years old. He keeps going to work, every day (except national holidays) and even leaves his little restaurant open on days he has to attend a funeral. His restaurant is small, taking up just the bottom level of a business building tucked away in a little area of Tokyo. It's not fancy, and consists of a kitchen, a sushi desk (where he prepares the food) and about ten seats for his guests. In order to eat at his place, you need to have reservations set up at least a month in advance, and once you do dine with him, the meal usually only lasts about 15 minutes. His food's not elaborate or really that fancy, but the man has been able to discover how to pull out the deepest of flavors from fish, octopi, and other food items. He's also taught his sons the craft, having his eldest, who's nearly fifty years old himself, work for him at the restaurant. The film touches upon the relationship he has with both of his kids as well as highlighting the traditional makeup of a Japanese family. 

His staff includes his son and apprentices that don't even touch fish until after ten years of 'training'. 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a very effective documentary. While it never goes out of its way to teach you something or leave you with any profound message or belief, it still manages to leave you relaxed and thinking about your own work ethic and life in general. As I mentioned that I'm not a fan of sushi, the movie manages to make me salivate and actually crave the food Jiro makes. By all means, if I even think about what's in the dish I feel turned off, but seeing the simplicity in the dish, with beautiful portraits of each one on display, actually made me hungry for the fish. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is filmed beautifully and much can be attributed to the director, David Gelb, a westerner from New York City. His technique behind the camera, mixed with a somber yet inspiring soundtrack makes Jiro Dreams of Sushi more than just a regular documentary.

I would highly recommend this little gem. It's only 81 minutes long, so it doesn't take up an entire afternoon or evening and is such a nice way to spend a rainy day. Jiro Ono is a one of a kind man and seeing his dedication to his work is incredibly admirable. He's a man who's considered a master by practically everyone in his field, yet he continues to strive to do even better, always changing his methods and honing his technique. His message to the audience is to not necessarily find what you love, but turn what you do into that very thing. Work hard and perfect your craft and any love you will have for the job will blossom into a lifelong calling. While it's not what most people want to hear (or even want to do), the heart of his message is pure and has plenty that can be learned from it. 

The Good:

beautiful cinematography that paints a gorgeous portrait of not only sushi, but Tokyo and Japan as well

The Better:

seeing one man's dedication to something that's lasted over 70 years and appreciating the talent he not only has, but shares

The Best:

making me reconsider sushi and genuinely wanting to seek it out again (something I thought I'd never do)

Overall: 8.6/10

Trailer: