November 2, 2007

Press Clippings

By Maggie Cortes

November 2, 2007

FILM

Tracking Shots

Confessions of a Superhero

by Robert Wilonsky

October 30th, 2007 1:14 PM

A more beautiful documentaryyou're unlikely to find—Matt Ogenshas composed every scene asthough it could be freeze-framedand hung on a wall. But beneath itsbeauty is the kind of ugly truthabout Hollywood Boulevard pan-handlers—struggling actors anddaydream believers—who dress upin shabby blockbuster attire, hopingto collect tourists' spare change inexchange for a gag Polaroid. Ogensfocuses on a low-rent JusticeLeague: Superman fetishist ChrisDennis, Batman rage-aholic MaxAllen, small-town prom queenturned Wonder Woman JenniferGehrt, and a homeless Hulk namedJoe McQueen. Ogens treats themwith considerable kindness, so whatcould have been a condescendingdescent into bottom-feeding turnsinto a loving, often heartbreakingportrait of decent people trying to scrape by. Dennis emerges as the star as hebattles for truth, justice, and the American way on his own little piece of realestate, where evildoers smoking cigarettes in Wolverine costumes threaten theenterprise. By the time he meets up with Margot Kidder at a costume contest, you'llbelieve the man can fly.

Confessions of a Superhero

Directed by Matt OgensNovember 2 through 8Two Boots PioneerBetter than Clooney.Joseph Viles

November 2, 2007

'SUPERHEROES' & WEAKNESSES

By V.A. MUSETTORATING:November 2, 2007 -- IT'S not easy being asuperhero, especially when you have to dressup as a comic book character, stand onHollywood Boulevard and pose for snapshotswith tourists, always being careful to note thatyou accept tips."Confessions of a Superhero," a warmdocumentary by Matt Ogens, looks at four of these struggling actors: Christopher LloydDennis (Superman), Joe McQueen (the Hulk),Jennifer Gehrt (Wonder Woman) and GeorgeClooney look-alike Maxwell Allen (Batman).Most interesting is Dennis, who lives in anapartment overflowing with Superman kitschand explains: "I consider myself to be ahistorian of Superman and the keeper of artifacts."One woman Dennis encounters on the streetburies herself in his costumed arms andproclaims, "I love Superman."Others aren't so kind. Johnny Grant, billed as the "honorary mayor of Hollywood"(whatever that means), labels Dennis and his ilk a bunch of dirty panhandlers,although he does note that he says hello to some of them.Ogens remains officially neutral. You, on the other hand, will most likely feel sorryfor these wannabe superheroes.

Running time: 97 minutes. Not rated (nothing objectionable). At the Two Boots Pioneer, Third

Christopher Lloyd Dennis is one of a group of struggling actors that parades around Hollywoodin superhero outfits. They're profiled in a newdocumentary.