I was able to get my hands on a Slamdance film (as I was covering it for IN Magazine) and since it has an inherently geeky bent I thought I’d cover it for Big Shiny Robot! as well.
Superheroes is a documentary directed by Michael Barnett and features a quick look into the lives of Real Life Superheroes. Shot beautifully on what looks to be DSLR cameras, Barnett and his crew followed a few different groups of Superheroes on both coasts (and a few spots in between) and tried to examine what they did and why.
For me, the film works much better in its second half where the filmmakers drop the filming and editing style of superiority over their subjects and takes them seriously, finally treating them as peers. At that point, the movie becomes most engaging. I’ve watched this film twice and I can’t get over the grating nature of the first half of the film.
We’re introduced to a pair of Real Life Superheroes, Mr. Xtreme from San Diego and Master Legend from Florida, and the film is cut in such a way that we’re supposed to feel as though they’re weirdos or unbalanced or that we’re supposed to laugh at them. Mr. Xtreme is photographed in his overly cluttered house in sweatpants watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. These sequences are intercut with introductions to other superheroes, namely Master Legend, who the audience is led to suspect that he’s nothing more than a drunk in a costume. “Expert” interviews interspersed through this section are limited to Marvel comics legend Stan Lee who questions the sanity and intelligence of anyone willing to fight crime without super powers, and a San Diego Police Psychologist who is convinced that the subjects do more harm than good and they are probably unbalanced.
It’s not a very flattering opening. And I can only speculate, but it feels that the filmmakers were laughing at their subjects through the beginning of the production and not expecting to find the heart and soul they found in these people.
After that turning point, the film is incredible.
The best stuff, however, comes toward the end, following a Real Life Superhero named “Life.” The scenes of him connecting with the homeless on the streets of New York were touching and almost enough to elicit tears. I would love to see a doc dedicated to him completely.
There’s a great film in here somewhere, though not the exhaustive examination of Real Life Superhero culture they seem to think it is, and I hope before it gets distribution they’re able to salvage the first half of the film. Don’t get me wrong. I really liked it, but it’s hard for me to divorce my instincts as a documentary filmmaker from my instincts as a film viewer and this film is pretty good, but could be great.
I’d also love to see a much more long term take on the subject, following someone for a long time to really get to the heart of them.