Have I Seen It Before : Yep.
We all want to believe that anyone can be who or what they want to be. That with the right amount of determination and hard work, and a dose of good luck, we can all be stars. But in watching Matthew Ogens' "Confessions Of A Superhero", we all know at about ten minutes in that none of the costumed hopefuls will show up listed on a movie poster. They walk a small square of Hollywood Boluvard, treading the line between "tips" and "panhandling". Dressed in costumes that vary from spot on to weak Halloween sauce. Heros trying to stay on the right side of the LAPD, while posing with tourists for pictures.
Each and everyone believes they will , someday, be discovered. Superman claims, but the film casts some doubt, that he is the long lost son of actress Sandy Dennis. That he is destined to be a star while sharing a small LA apartment that is Superman Hording central with his girlfriend, whom he has molded into the likeness of Crystal Gayle. Batman, claims a dark, mob past. Again, the film casts doubt. Also, he looks , "too much like Clooney", which costs him work. Indeed, he looks like Clooney, after going a round or two with Jake LaMota. The Hulk was homeless and Wonder Woman gets married in Vegas while trying to land a commercial.
Ogens' film is a few days in the life of all of these characters. Making up or avoiding their pasts, while trying to scrape out a famous future. Punctuated by beautiful still photos of his subjects, Ogens' style is clean and unobtrusive, putting these stories on full display. At times funny and said, you can't help but hit up IMBD after a watch to see where they are now. And they haven't done too bad. Wonder Woman even has a few tv credits (True Blood, The New Girl). And despite the odds, you have to respect the fact that these heroes at least dared to dream.
Available via Netflix streaming and on dvd. Holds up to repeat viewings.
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