The Defendor

reviewed by Marc Glassman

The Defendor
Peter Stebbings, director & writer
Starring: Woody Harrelson (Arthur Poppington), Kat Dennings (Katerina Debrofkowitz), Sandra Oh (Dr. Park), Elias Koteas (Chuck Dooney)

People who attack Canadian films for being aimless and pretentious should see The Defendor, the directorial debut of actor Peter Stebbings (The Tree Salesman). Here’s the best possible response to those long-standing critiques of our cinema: a feature that is unashamedly populist in its roots but is also a tough and heartfelt drama. Stebbings wasn’t afraid to script a fine leading role—something Canadians supposedly don’t do—for Woody Harrelson, who seizes his opportunity and offers a riveting performance as the odd but compelling Arthur Poppington.

A nearly dysfunctional manual labourer by day, Poppington becomes The Defendor by night, a costumed Batman-styled creature, who wreaks havoc on the evil men who threaten his city. Not having super powers or great gadgets or even a lot of money doesn’t deter Poppington whose heart is pure. He attacks his arch-enemy Captain Industry, his henchmen and even heartless detectives, with absolute vigour and through luck, bravery and some physical skill, the Defendor becomes a folk hero.

Assisting the Defendor is Kat, a smart, sassy, street-wise young woman. So far, so good, you’re thinking---this sounds like a nice piece of comic book cinema.

But Stebbings has laid a nice trap for his audience. Kat is a prostitute and, we gradually understand, the victim of sexual abuse since her youth. And Poppington is autistic; his heart is pure because he doesn’t see the outside world as the majority does. His childlike spirit is real but there are intimations that he, too, had an improper upbringing.

The dark underside of the city is reflected in the shattered psyches of Stebbings’ heroes. From his youth, Poppington has heard how the “captains of industry” were destroying the good blue-collar workers of his hometown. Kat’s a punk when she isn’t turning tricks; naturally, she falls into line with the Defendor’s anarchical thinking. They both want to overturn a system that may be terrible but is also beyond their comprehension.

If this all sounds psychological or political or even philosophical, rest assured The Defendor is full of action and set pieces. A thespian himself, Stebbings elicits a wonderful performance from Kat Dennings, who partners Harrrelson brilliantly. Cast members Sandra Oh and Elias Koteas acquit themselves admirably.

Canadians don’t support Canadian cinema. So they say. I urge you to see The Defendor; it’s a truly impressive debut.