The very concept of a “realistic” superhero film would seem
to be a gross contradiction in terms.
The fantastical conventions and tropes of the genre seem irreversibly resistant
to such iterations. This has not stopped
a plethora of filmmakers from offering pseudo realistic takes on the caped and
costumed set. Kick Ass, Watchmen, and
Christopher Nolan’s Batman films all
purport to be the genuine article in terms of grit and realism. All of the aforementioned address the various
implausibilities and impossibilities of the genre in a myriad of ways. Though these films can in no way be
considered artistic failures, none of them ever has ever been completely successful
in accomplishing their goals. Writer/Director
Michael Morrissey has attempted to remedy this problem with his gritty
vigilante film, Boy Wonder.
