subxerogravity Adding a bit of diversity to the Superhero movie genre is American Hero.Stephen Dorff is cast perfectly as a mundane style superhero. A man blessed with gifts that make him special, but too nihilistic to use his powers for anything pass doing some simple parlor tricks to get money for drugs booze and girls, but like a page out of a Marvel comic, a near death experience clears his head, allowing him to become focus on the responsibility of becoming the man his son needs him to be.Two things that make this movie impressive:One was the outstanding performance by Eddie Griffith as a war hero who lives life in a wheelchair. The way his life parallels that of Stephen Dorff's character, a man who has everything but does nothing, was emotionally captivating in a film you would not expect this in. It was so real and natural, it was hard to believe Griffith can walk. It may seem too high praise to say it's Oscar worthy, but it was, and it's too bad they don't even consider giving out the trophy on a flick like this. Second was the back drop of the big easy. New Orleans set the tone perfectly for American Hero, because it's one of those places in America that really could use a man with gifts like the main character and he's barely touching the surface of his potential.The one thing that keeps American Hero from being amazing is the documentary style it's formatted in. It's not that I'm sick and tired of the format (but I am), the gimmick feels like just that, a gimmick and it takes away from the story because it's very inconsistent. I guess it was done to make us feel like we are part of the story by making us feel we are shooting the American Hero's life but Dorff's performance was too close to what the average person would do if they had superpowers that we did not need that extra push. It's one of those things that just tells you the time and the place this movie was made, like bell bottoms or baggy paints, and stops it from becoming timeless.With that said, I do feel that American Hero has potential to be the type of film nerds will be talking about in the aftermath of the Superhero genre with the praise of a hidden gem among them.

johnnmilw Finally, a hero movie that doesn't insult our intelligence. Most of us are so used to feats of strength (heavy objects flying through the air, hard objects bending at will, physical skills that defy science)that we forget basic humanity may be a big part of what makes a person a hero. In this movie, we see how an ordinary man, endowed with certain abnormal skills, exhibits more of his human side than his 'super' side. Human qualities, lack of personal direction, love, sympathy, pleasure, self-destruction, etc, can be characteristic of most movies about heroes, but what we eventually is a dizzying display of special effects, demonstrating what is supposed to be 'super human'. There is always a presumption that certain folks are exceptionally moral and/or ethical and usually guns or super human strength (and the explosions, use of force, testosterone-driven theatrics that accompany it) may be necessary in order that the hero wins the day. Mythical...no doubt. But it focuses on the 'super' as opposed to the 'human'. This movie does a fine job focusing on the human condition and does so in a low-key, humorous way. The characters are somewhat exaggerated as to identify various life forces acting within a particular area of this city. Drug-pushers, young children, disenfranchised vets, etc, all play a roll in a rich chemistry of characters. The 'hero', a fun, conscientious partier, trying to escape responsibility, and who, seemingly, follows the adage 'If you don't know where you're going, stay put until you do!' A vet, helpless in some ways, appreciative and in full contact in others, adds many levels of emotion to the movie and us wonderful in it. Overall, if you're expecting Iron Man...move on. If you're OK with Birdman....you may enjoy the subtleties this movie brings to the table.

Paul Wycherley One of the most interesting indi films and quite difficult to explain but will give it a try. Melvin (stephen dorff) is a beer loving drug taking party goer but with the advantage of having super powers after a court case bans him from seeing his son melvin and his best friend lucille (eddie griffin) attempt to change their ways so melvin can get his son back. The comedy is dark and random but the way this film is shot is brilliant as its in the style of a documentary. Stephen dorff has kept himself busy over the years and not done anything outstanding since Blade 1998, American hero will put him back in Hollywood's window as it shows just how good of a actor he is.

Glitchface Dan First impressions were OK, it was visually very nice but the swearing was a bit too frequent, like it was trying too hard to be street.It wasn't a film that made me feel very passionate so I'm finding this hard. Due to how laid back the whole thing was, it's very easy to watch and forget.No real real gripes with it apart from the fact it doesn't seem to know whether it is a fictional documentary or a regular movie.In lots of scenes (mostly at the start) the cast talk to the camera man, but this isn't consistent throughout the film. I'm sure street thugs doing drugs and guns etc might not act as if the cameras weren't there, nor would the cameraman smoothly and calmly film a shootout without cover.Some of the CGI effects were a bit video game-like which which I can understand on a low budget, but they could have disguised them better with some creative filters.I gave it 6/10 which is a good score for me, it would have been 8/10 for a low budget movie had the above issues not have been there.