Defendor

Tom's Corner:



Defendor

(2009, Peter Stebbings, Director)



Sometimes you sit down to watch a movie, expecting one thing, and get something totally...different. In lieu of going to Tribeca, I initiated my own little film festival tonight. First up, Woody Harrelson's latest film, Defendor.



This was an amazing film. The premise is actually quite believable, and similar has been done before. Here we have a mentally handicapped man, Arthur Poppington (brilliantly played by Woody Harrelson) who decides to become a superhero named Defendor. He is hunting for “Captain Industry” the man who he believes killed his mother. Defendor uses an array of homemade weapons, along with cheap kids toys. Harrelson brings charm and sympathy to a part which could have easily been played up for cheap laughs. During his crime fighting escapades, Defendor meets Katrina, a teenage prostitute (played by Kat Dennings). The two strike up an odd friendship, partly due to the fact that Arthur is paying her for information on Captain Industry.



After beating down a corrupt cop named Dooney (Elias Koteas), Defendor is arrested. He forms a unique connection with Constable Mike, who decides to let him go after they talk about his primary weapon, a vintage World War I trench club and Mike figures he's harmless. Sandra Oh also appears as Dr. Park, a psychiatrist, and Michael Kelly plays Paul Carter, Arthur's boss and friend.



Arthur eventually gets in over his head, but he never gives up, no matter what gets thrown at him. This film runs the gamut of emotions. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but in the end, you will enjoy yourself. I give this one two trench clubs up. Go out and give it a chance, you truly won't be disappointed.