James Gunn is one messed-up dude.
If you didn’t know that already, based on his previous body of work (Slither, The Specials), you need to watch the brilliant and disturbing film Super, starring Rainn Wilson. It is… dark.
Very dark.
Wilson plays Frank, a character who is part man-child, part sad-sack… and he’s incredibly sympathetic. Facing the loss of the woman he loves (Liv Tyler) to a drug dealer (played with great panache by Kevin Bacon) he has a vision where he is touched by the finger of God… and that vision changes his life.
“All it takes to be a super-hero… is the choice to fight evil.”
Is that a change, and a choice, for the better? Well… just watch.
Seeing Wilson’s character become the Crimson Bolt is a definite sight to see, and his orgy of violence against crime is a site to behold. He is a far cry from the Dwight we are all familiar with in The Office, and that’s all for the good.
Before watching James Gunn’s “realistic” take on the superhero story, you need to forget all preconceived notions of what a superhero movie is… because such expectations will lead to confusion and disappointment. This is an eccentric, bleak film unlike other superhero films, save one. Super is the spiritual “brother” of the 80’s film Hero at Large (which I will also revisit in this series)… Both look at the ludicrousness of super-heroics, and how the idea in practice will probably not go well… especially against bullets.
(And yes, Kick-Ass has a similar “post-modern” take on the superhero, but Kick-Ass doesn’t go to the extremes this film does… and Kick-Ass is still a “comic-book” movie at heart.)
Look for great supporting performances by Ellen Page, Michael Rooker and a brilliant, witty extended cameo from Nathan Fillion. All bring their talents to bear to make this small independent film something “Super”. An exceptional and entertaining work.
And F’d up… in a good way.
The idea that the James Gunn who brought us Super is going to be directing Marvel’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy big-budget superhero film gets me very very excited indeed.