TIFF Review: Defendor
Defendor
Directed by Peter Stebbings
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Kat Dennings and Sandra Oh
As the sun sets and moon glows, the lowest of the low, the scum of the earth, and the dregs of society scurry to the street to wreck havoc on the upstanding citizens of Hammer Town. There’s only one person capable of stopping the carnage. One person who has the courage. It’s Defendor!
Woody Harrelson stars as our hero and mild mannered construction worker Arthur Poppington, a regular man who is a little slow upstairs. He lives in the workshop of the construction company where he works and this is also his hideout or Defendorcave if you will. He builds his weapons there and makes all of his plans to set right all of the wrongs.
Why does he do this? For justice!
The story that is set in the present is Arthur speaking with his psychiatrist (Oh) and we get flashbacks as the answers to the doctor’s questions. This sets up the main plot. Defendor is trying to bring his arch enemy, Captain Industry, to justice. He’s never met him, seen him or knows where he is, but he knows he exists because Captain Industry in one way or another is responsible for everything that has gone wrong in Arthur’s life, including the death of his mother. Using weapons such as jars of angry wasps, marbles, sling shots and a billy club, Defendor takes his quest to the streets.
He stumbles into a police sting operation against a drug lord, who he believes to be his villain. After an unfortunate defeat, he is helped by a prostitute (Dennings) that he had helped earlier and she uses Arthur for a place to stay. As the film moves on they begin to form an unlikely friendship due to Arthur’s kindness, honesty and innocence.
The film climaxes with a final battle between not only Defendor and his arch enemy, but between Arthur and his psychiatrist as he tries to convince her that he is not insane.
There are some funny action sequences and the film does border on comedy and drama and at times seems to lose it’s way. Woody Harrelson gives a decent performance and he is surrounded by a good cast. Overall, I liked Defendor. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful. — Greg
Comments (13)
a 2/4 is kind of a fail grade for a movie you said you liked. 2.5/4, equiv of a 63% grade was too high?
Posted by Goon on September 16th, 20092 out of 4 is not a failing grade in my book. Why argue the grade anyway? It’s really the least important part. I only do it because Sean wants a grade.
Posted by Greg on September 17th, 2009Well, if it were a school grade it’d be like a D- or F :/ – if RottenTomatoes were calculating this they’d put it on the Rotten side…
Posted by Goon on September 17th, 2009But it’s not a school grade. It’s my grade. I also couldn’t care less about Rotten Tomatoes. I’ve never even been to their site.
Posted by Greg on September 17th, 2009That’s not the point, and I hate to nitpick over the review, but seriously, 2/4 is a 50%, it doesnt matter if its in school, a store, or wherever. By pretty much any measure that’s a failing grade. If I had made this movie I’d probably be scratching my head at this review hoping people read the positive comments rather than just looked at the rating, which would do nothing but dissuade viewers.
Maybe you and I just have different meanings of ‘like’ – I assume ‘like’ would ensure a pass but maybe for you ‘like’ begins at ‘not horrible’? I don’t know…
Whatever, its 4:30am. Enjoy the rest of your festival fun. I’m enjoying your reviews/reports.
Posted by Goon on September 17th, 2009Stop trolling just to pick a fight Goon!
Posted by Henrik on September 17th, 2009I don’t necessarily see 2/4 as a failing grade either, even though I know that Ebert apparently considers it a fail. I see it as “take it or leave it”.
Posted by Sean on September 17th, 2009‘I liked Defendor. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful.’
Not great. Not awful. Right in the middle. 2 out of 4. Halfway there.
Jesus, I had a lot of 50’s in grade nine and ten and yet I never had to retake a class. Looks to me like a 50% is a pass if we’re using a school analogy.
Posted by Greg on September 17th, 2009Yeesh, all I did was read the whole review and feel like the rating didn’t line up with your words. It’s not unique to you or FJ – there’s been plenty of podcast reviews where it was nothing but bashing and then a thumbs up was given.
Seriously, my first post was just trying to better nail down what you thought of it, and now its made to look like I’m Mr. Professor Ratings Nerd.
So might as well oblige. In Canada its a D- and means “Well below government standards”. In the US it’s almost always an F. When I see ratings on things I’m translating these things into that context, and I don’t know why I wouldn’t.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_(education)
Posted by Goon on September 17th, 2009Just forget I nagged at all – I’m sure you’ll have more details about the movie on the next podcast.
Just let me know if the movie is good enough to justify that cheap costume as a last minute Halloween idea.
– first impressions of the trailer were exactly that.
Posted by Goon on September 17th, 2009“Why does he do this? For justice!” lol
Posted by Snake Eyes on September 17th, 2009@ Goon: You would make a great debate team captain. If the movie gets a large enough release before Halloween, then go for it. Unless you want people to say…’What the hell are you?’
Posted by Greg on September 17th, 2009As a comic nerd yourself I’m sure you know about the Silver Snail store in Toronto. I usually go to their Halloween party. I would lay odds that at least a few would get it. Better than nothing.
Posted by Goon on September 17th, 2009Leave a Reply