Comic book films: A prominent film genre, which I dub as corporate cinema. In recent years, there has been an oversaturation of comic book films and superhero fare at movie theaters around the globe, with almost all of them containing no distinct visual nor directorial style. Very rarely do I encounter a comic book film that has some sort of distinct vision, and recently I viewed a film that showcases just that. I attended a screening of “Superman,” the newest film from James Gunn, over the summer, and it is an excellent film.
“Superman” follows the titular superhero as he protects the city of Metropolis from anyone who seeks to cause chaos, along with watching over the adorable Krypto, a dog who also has superpowers. Superman works under the guise of a secret identity: Clark Kent, a reporter for the newspaper The Daily Planet, who is able to miraculously grant interviews with Superman. Superman balances this life with constant grueling battles with his archnemesis, Lex Luthor, who works trying to destroy him. His co-worker at the Daily Planet is Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), who is in a relationship with Clark, and unlike other adaptations of the character, is aware of his true identity.
David Corenswet immerses himself in the role of Superman in a truly fantastic leading performance. In his portrayal of Superman, Corenswet truly embodies the Man of Steel, along with balancing the different personalities between Superman and Clark Kent, with Kent being a more reserved and awkward character, while Superman is more outgoing. A standout moment in Corenswet’s performance is when he confronts Luthor over the whereabouts of Krypto.
As Lois Lane, Rachel Brosnahan also delivers a great leading performance. Brosnahan portrays Lane, a reporter who works at the Daily Planet and is in a relationship with Clark/Superman. A highlight of her performance is a scene where she attempts to interview Superman at her apartment.
Nicholas Hoult delivers a stellar performance as Lex Luthor, a vicious tech mogul and archnemesis of Superman. Luthor is a callous billionaire and the head of LuthorCorp, who uses various methods to try to defeat Superman, coordinating every move of his creations from his looming building. Hoult, whose previous film performances include leading roles, most recently as Thomas Hutter in Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” last year, along with supporting roles (such as in George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road”), is truly excellent. Hoult matter-of-factly delivers several of his lines, adding to the coldness of this character.
María Gabriela de Faría gives a really good breakout performance as The Engineer. In her breakout role, de Faría portrays an associate of Luthor who is able to harvest data, as demonstrated by Luthor and his associates breaking into Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, with The Engineer harvesting the data housed in the structure.
Nathan Fillion delivers a hilarious supporting performance as Guy Gardner, a Green Lantern and the leader of the Justice Gang, whose members include Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mr. Fantastic (Edi Gathegi, who delivers his lines in a deadpan tone).
Anthony Carrigan, whose breakout role was NoHo Hank in the stellar HBO series “Barry,” also has a supporting role in the film, as Metamorpho.
Writer-director James Gunn brings something distinct to the superhero genre by being at the helm of this film. With his second film for DC after 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” and his second film in general since becoming co-chairman and CEO of DC Studios, Gunn envisions the hope that the character of Superman symbolizes and captures it quite well on the silver screen. Gunn provides the viewer with a distinct directorial vision, something rarely seen in comic book films, unlike the watered-down in-house style of other filmmakers’ work in this genre, such as the Russo Brothers.
Gunn also takes a similar approach to Matt Reeves took with 2022’s “The Batman” by not opening the film with Superman’s origin story, but instead beginning the film with the Man of Steel in the midst of a brutal battle. Compared to the dark take on the Man of Steel in Zack Snyder’s abhorrent 2016 film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” which is immersed in a bleak tone, Gunn’s “Superman” is a much more hopeful film with bright visuals that complement the themes of the film quite well. Gunn also works with people that he’s previously collaborated with on other films, such as Nathan Fillion, who was in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films that he directed for Marvel.
With “Superman,” James Gunn delivers an enjoyable and great film, with an excellent leading performance from David Corenswet, along with an engaging storyline and distinct directorial vision, that leaves the viewer with a hopeful film that represents everything that the Man of Steel stands for.
Hope is what we need.
“Superman” is available for pre-order on Blu-ray, and is also available to buy and rent on YouTube and Apple TV.
