Broken heroes
It is the photo above that first drew my attention to the Matt Ogen documentary Confessions of a Superhero. Struck by the clash of the bright and iconic costume of Superman with miserable drab green reality, I first thought that it was a portrait amongst a series of photographs.
It could be a fair mistake to make as the film does rely very heavily on the imagery of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Hulk set against the backdrop of Hollywood. Not the glitzy, glamorous Hollywood that is sold to the world as a foundation stone of the American dream, but the stretch of broken dreams.
In fact Ogen’s photographs from the film were part of the 2007 Images of the Year by American Photo magazine.
The documentary provides snapshots of the lives of four ‘performers’ who dress up as comic book characters and pose with tourists for money on Hollywood Boulevard.
Superman (Christopher Dennis) is a former meth addict who is obsessed with the Man of Steel and has a passing resemblance to Christopher Reeve. He is the veteran of the group and gives advice to the others which includes the fact that Superheroes don’t smoke in public (to a less than convinced Ghost Rider who he himself was less than convincing). He claims to be the son of an actress though her family deny it. Something obviously has hurt this man in his past so much so that he escaped into Superman. One sequence has him talking about the death of Reeve as he holds back the tears, Reeve being his Superman of choice.
Batman (Maxwell Allen) has a much more than a passing resemblance for George Clooney, surprisingly so given the right angle. When I say that Superman has had something bad happen to him it is nothing like what I can only imagine has happened to Batman. The hurt and sadness is clear behind his cowled eyes, he is an angry man who talks of his violent past. If even half of what he says is true it is a miracle that he can deal with life on a day to day basis let alone put on the Batman suit. His wife is really interesting as she talks about him.
Wonder Woman (Jennifer Gehrt) sits alone in her sad little apartment and talks of her former life as a Prom queen. We get to watch her get married in Vegas and the eventual break down of her whirlwind marriage. She is going on auditions and claims that all she wants to do is act, even if she gets no great money from it, she is doing what she loves. Wonder Woman though doesn’t really speak about the character she is performing or even her life as a character.
The Hulk (Joe McQueen) sold his Super Nintendo to get a ticket to LA and follow his dream of acting. What he found was homelessness and a giant green costume that he occasionally passes out in due to the heat. The Hulk is possibly the most tragic of the four as he doesn’t appear to have any psychological problems and is acutely aware that he is pan handling but tells himself that it is performing.
The film is paced and steady. It is gorgeously shot as the film maker captures the odd world that these people inhabit. I find that there is no way that I can make fun of these people, they are tragic but seem to take the roles that they perform seriously if not naively.
This is a quiet, subtle film that has left me thinking. It has left me confused about how I feel about it but I know that it is beautiful.
*updated - I had the names turned around for Batman and the Hulk, something that Maxwell himself pointed out! Sorry guys! I’ve fixed it now.
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This is the kind of stuff that (for me, at least) makes documentaries so compelling.
John’s last blog post..The Last Galactic Makeover
this is definitely on my “to watch” list.
sir jorge’s last blog post..Weekend Edition: Taxes, Death, and Notebooks
This, right here, is why I like this Blog so much. Thank you Lee for making me aware of this piece of art.
That looks great, if not a little melancholy. It’s now on my list
Dan’s last blog post..Field of dreams
John - I saw the website and had to see the film, it’s an extraordinary mix of comic characters and the small things in people’s lives.
sir jorge - that’s great I only hope you enjoy it now!
Ian - you are most certainly welcome and I can’t wait to hear what you think. You may want to go see Cousin Larry because I’m pretty certain he’s the only one who’s got it in Australia.
Dan - I won’t lie to you this is not the cheeriest of films, like I say, it is really weird because I can’t work out how I feel about it. But it is such a cool experience at the same time.
put it on the list.
Wonder Woman looks mighty fine..shouldn’t be to hard to get a role.
I haven’t checked SGA yet..runs of to get his torrent started.
Arjan’s last blog post..The Wire update upto s5.09
Arjan - you’re assuming that all it takes is a pretty face - I would dare say there is about thousand pretty girls trying to be successful in Hollywood - I imagine it’s the same for the guys too.
ok true..but it dóes make it easier.
She just has a special look (not meant in a strange way) which would make her good for some roles. Meh I’m mumbling.
Arjan’s last blog post..The Wire update upto s5.09
If those “heros” had any balls they’d go out and fight some crime… lazy bastards.
Polly Pureheart’s last blog post..GOOGLE HAS SOME SPLANIN’ TO DO
To Cousin Larry’s!!!!
[...] blogs are beingfrugal.net and cpyu.org (you may have to scroll to the 3/4/2008 entry). The third (Quit Your Day Job) mentions a documentary about the lives of people who are attempting to make a living by dressing [...]
LOL at Arjan - yeah you’re right when I look at her she does look like an actress. Mumbling is good.
W - Cousin Larry kicks ass!
The names kinda got mixed up a little…It is Maxwell “Batman” Allen & Joe “Hulk” Mcqueen.
The film is not what it was supposed to be. Not even close! It was edited with Lies,Deception & total B.S.. It was edited in many parts, sometimes two sentences put togther, to make the Actors seem like they said something completely different. “Confussions of a Stupidhero” did this on purpose.
Mess Ogar(Matt Ogden) is also trying to “steal” the lives of ALL the Actors in the movie, preventing them from EVER doing anything again as an Actor, as a character, or even as themselves. He lied to ALL the Actors about many things, as he is still doing! He is a Liar, a Backstbber, and a Thief! The Documentary is a joke, full of Lies & Deciet.
Matt Ogden gives a bad name to ALL filmmakers!
Hi Maxwell, first off let me apologise for getting your names mixed up, I’ve fixed it now on the site. I had heard rumours after watching the movie that you guys weren’t happy with the final version, I think I may have read Jennifer commenting on it somewhere (maybe myspace).
I’ll admit to have thought (not very deeply) about the consequences for you guys especially wanting to get roles in Hollywood. It’s one thing to be typecast as Batman if you’re Adam West at least you get a series out of it.
I’m going to send you an email too because I have a whole bunch of other questions that I’d love to ask you so don’t feel if you have to respond to this!