Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A crooked cop, a mob boss and the young girl they abuse are the denizens of a city's criminal underworld. It's a world that ordinary Arthur Poppington doesn't understand and doesn't belong in, but is committed to fighting when he changes into a vigilante super-hero of his own making, Defendor. With no power other than courage Defendor takes to the streets to protect the city's innocents.
Defendor is a quietly affecting dark comedy-drama elevated significantly by Woody Harrelson's deeply committed, nuanced performance as Arthur Poppington — a mentally ill man who genuinely believes he is a superhero. Harrelson brings both pathos and dignity to what could have been a one-note joke, earning a well-above-average acting mark. The plot is functional and emotionally earnest but follows a fairly predictable vigilante-with-a-twist arc, landing just above average. Cinematography is workmanlike and unremarkable — a low-budget Canadian production that serves the story without distinguishing itself visually. Novelty is moderate: the delusional-superhero premise has some originality in its grounded, melancholic treatment, but it occupies familiar territory alongside films like Kick-Ass and Special from roughly the same era. The ending is bittersweet and emotionally honest, consistent with the film's tone, though not surprising or particularly memorable.