DEFENDOR: MY FAVORITE SUPER HERO

Constable Mike: Captain, this guy is pretty funny.

He says he wants to call a truce.
Captain Fairbanks: A vigilante?
Constable Mike: No. No, he's a superhero. He calls him Defendor. And that's with an O-R, Captain. It's not an E-R. Defendor.

And he flips out if you get that wrong. It's very bizarre.

What a most unpredictable and thoroughly enjoyable movie this turned out to be! Woody Harrelson is one of the most underestimated actors of our time. At the base, this is a story about people and how they can have redeeming qualities regardless of how they might seem at first glance. It is almost an homage to super hero movies, full of all their cliches, but then it takes a turn to the dramatic and by the end, turns out to be a sincere and touching movie. We meet DefenDOR wearing all black with a black makeup eye mask and a helmet complete with duct taped on flashlights (for better night vision). A crude "D" marks his chest, also made from duct tape. He has his secret weapons; marbles, hornets in a jar, sling shot and lime juice and surprisingly, they work pretty well. While in the streets defending people from evil he "rescues" a crack whore hooker with a heart of gold (Kat Dennings) and battles a rogue undercover policeman (my favorite Elias Koteas). It's fun to watch how mild mannered Arthur Poppington (Harrelson) turns into Defendor, complete with his Batman voice and clever superhero one liners. "Look out, termites. It's squishing time." In time we see that he is a bit mentally challenged while he tells of his adventures to Sandra Oh, a court appointed psychiatrist. The layers get peeled back and we discover the events that led to this point and it gets a bit more dramatic than funny, however it is never mired down in the seriousness. Harrelson is one of the best actors of this generation and for such an odd and off-beat film, he classes it up all the way. It could have been a terrible film, but with his very touching performance, it makes for one that should not be missed. Be sure to watch the outtakes and featurettes.

THE SOLOIST

THE SOLOIST: A PERFECT DUET


Being a psychology major in college, I've gained a discerning eye with regard to films about the mentally ill. My complaints usually stem from the usual stereotypical behavior assigned to each condition. This film, however, did an exceptional job of showing the reality of a terrible majority of those who suffer mental illness and homelessness. It's not perfect and to me, ended up being more about homelessness than mental illness. Over time, many people who endure mental illness have also been blessed with genius; painting, writing, playing music. That's where this movie starts. Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) is a reporter in Los Angeles who, while searching for story ideas, comes across an interesting character, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) who can make a two-strung violin sound like angels from heaven.

CRAZY FOR LOVE

CRAZY FOR LOVE, AKA: MY SUICIDAL SWEETHEART, NOT INSANE
Oh how PC we all are now... first released as 'My Suicidal Sweetheart', now turned into 'Crazy For Love'... but hey, "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name, would smell as sweet." Max (David Krumholtz) is a troubled young man who is sent to a mental institution after many unsuccessful attempts to kill himself. In true love story fashion, Max meets a beautiful young woman Grace (Natasha Lyonne) who is also suicidally-challenged and it is love at first site. Once they escape from the institution the real madness ensues. Despite either title, this is a surprisingly sweet movie which is funny but also very touching and unexpectedly sincere. It could have gone way over the top, but only neared the line once or twice. Lots of "D-list" celebrities throughout the film, but it is only the icing across this crazy cake.
PICK: Smart, funny and realistic, this movie has heart... and Prozac and Xanax and...

MICHAEL CLAYTON

MICHAEL CLAYTON IS OUTSTANDING WHY???

I have no problem with George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, or Sydney Pollack. This was a well-crafted movie about a lawsuit, the good guys and the bad guys. Clooney restrains himself from the funny/charming part of him and plays the part straight. There are twists and turns, but nothing overly dramatic or spectacular. Frankly, I felt like I was watching a long episode of Law and Order. We've seen this before. There wasn't anything new or cutting edge. I think everyone did a good job, but best actor/best actress/best picture good??? I felt no connection to these characters and if anyone did die, go to prison, lose their practice... I didn't care. It was slick, well cut and wrapped in a pretty box with a big bow, but I still didn't think this movie was anything to get excited about.

This is NOT a pick: TNT shows reruns of Law and Order... you'll see the same stuff there (and for free!).

KING OF CALIFORNIA

KING OF CALIFORNIA LOOSES THRONE

The worst part about this movie is that it could have been done so much better. I'm not a fan of Evan Rachel Wood who plays Miranda, the daughter of a recently released mental patient. But I can't fault her for a dissapointing script. Michael Douglas is Charlie, her father, who has been in a mental institution for the last few years. Now Charlie wants to find burried treasure. Again, given what they had they did the best they could with it. I can't tell if it was the script or directing or Douglas, but his character was stereotypical at best. His performance gives crazy a bad name. It was also unbelievable that his daughter would let him go off on a tangent, indulge his thoughts and then a few minutes later play the protagonist who is to be the "reasonable" one. I just didn't buy it.

Not a Pick: The script and writing could have made this magical, but it wasn't.