Writer/Director: John M. Kline
Producer: Scott M. Weil
Music: Taras Tkachenko
Cinematography: Matt Louie
Cast: Frankie - Yvette Monreal
Solar Flare - Adam Marcinowski
Captain Boulevard - Jason R. Hughes
Doc Compton - Ron Bush
Opening Thoughts: I know almost nothing about this film except that it is winning awards for best science fiction film and best cinematography. While I am not interested in seeing another comic book movie, at least 41 films next year fall underneath sequel, reboot, or comic film and at least 13 of those are on comic properties, so you can see why I am not interested in seeing another comic film. Hollywood must think we are mindless zombies and see whatever they tell us.
I'll be honest I hit the wall with comic films around Captain America: Civil War. The wall is that point in a marathon in which a runner wants to keep running and still has the will to run, but the rest of their body gives up on them and they physically collapse unable to go any further.
So I am not sure what Kline and Weil can provide to make me excited about comic films again, but since the film is showing at the Film Bar and director will be on hand I'll try the film out.
Plot: Solar Flare, a superhero from an alternate reality, has been stranded in our reality stripped of his superpowers. Solar Flare believes that on the 188th day without his powers they will come back to him.
What is Solar Flare supposed to do for 188 days without his powers? Can he survive the tough streets of Los Angeles and the weirdos of Hollywood Boulevard? Will he even get his powers back? As an alien who can he trust?
A 188 days oh what stories can be told by an alien unfamiliar with our customs. Frankie an inspiring musician is about to hear the tale of Solar Flare directly from Solar Flare himself.
Are you ready to see the tale of Solar Flare?
Review: Well watching an indie film you know nothing about is like eating a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get. If you went into Once Upon a Superhero thinking you are going to get your normal superhero film you are gravely mistaken.
Kline has written and directed a very different type of Superhero film. One in which we witness the downward spiral of a man who can no longer do what he once could in life. Now this is not a new concept in film, we explored this briefly with Superman II. Yet how dark would Warner Brothers really let their flagship hero for kids go? Truth is they will do nothing to damage his reputation so there are boundaries set. Kline with Solar Flare is going to break those boundaries and take you in a journey of the darkest depths like we have never seen a superhero go through before.
Yet to accomplish Kline's vision cinematographer Matt Louie steps in. Louie shot this film like the 188 days were supposed to be some kind of blur, dream, or descent into the unknown to where I as viewer felt I was in a dream like status. I would compare that status as to how one should feel if they are watching Blade Runner is it real or a dream? I think that is what Kline wants us to feel is Solar Flare a hero or a crazy individual to where we the viewer are in a hallucinogenic state to make that decision. I believe with the help of Louie he accomplishes that.
Some of the ways that is accomplished is through split screen scenes in which Solar Flare may be at two places or more at once, blurry shots, and nighttime shots in LA. Other ways are through the grittiness of the film. When we first see Solar Flare he is clean shaven and in a great suit, but after awhile the beard grows and that suit I swear Marcinowski was wearing it everywhere on and off duty without cleaning the thing. I could smell the stench through the screen.
I thought I was in a hell hole to be honest.
Now let us look at our stars of the film Adam Marcinowski as Solar Flare. Outside of his exposed face we never see underneath the mask. This is brilliant because the mask hides the emotions Flare may be showing and Adam to seem like he is getting more and more withdrawn from reality in his performance as the film goes along. You couldn't ask for much more out of him.
Jason R. Hughes plays Captain Boulevard. A loveable, goofy, fat, and drugged up superhero who lives a carefree life and doesn't mind trouble if it is fun. Hughes comes across as Flare's Dom DeLuise. While quarky and at some times annoying he is the comic relief this film needs from getting too dark.
Then you have Yvette Monreal as Frankie. Yvette wonderfully plays Frankie a somewhat naive, but a person who generally will give the shirt she is wearing to anyone to help them out. Frankie is a musician that seems to have big time dreams just doesn't know the dangers of the world. Frankie is the key the personality that will allow Flare to expose himself to her.
It's well cast film while their acting is not always perfect, they actors are the types Kline needs to pull this off each with their own abilities that draws off the strengths of others.
Closing Thoughts: Once Upon a Superhero is a great little film unlike any other superhero film I have seen. While the acting can leave room for desire, the film more than makes up for it with story and cinematography. Yes this film may contain the most disgusting love scene since Tommy Wiseau in the Room. If you love dark, gritty, and funny films you should try this one out. It's been less than 24 hours and I already want to watch this film again. This film is a solid 8.5 out of town for unique story, cinematography, and great attention of the detail from sets to costumes. If this is what I can expext from John M. Kline give me more.
The director and producer are touring nationwide with this film to select indie and arthouse theaters. If you want to know more catch them at one of those screenings.
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