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353:. After Arthur is released, he returns to his day job at a government construction depot. His life is solitary, but after another confrontation with Dooney, he meets Angel, a prostitute who was smoking crack with Dooney. After he is brutally beaten by Dooney's friends, she helps him recover and informs him that Captain Industry's real name is Radovan Kristic. Arthur lets her move in with him, and enlists her help in apprehending Kristic.
25:
346:, is interviewing Arthur Poppington, a vigilante known as "Defendor", about his assault of a dry cleaning business owner. The story flashes back to Arthur's encounter with Dooney, a corrupt detective that Arthur believes is in the employ of his nemesis, "Captain Industry", who Arthur blames for his mother leaving him as a child and later dying from a drug overdose.
383:
Arthur goes to confront Dooney and
Kristic and manages to subdue a few henchmen, but is shot repeatedly by Kristic. Arthur accuses him of killing his mother, and Kristic recognizes her name, implying he truly was responsible for her death. As Arthur lies dying, Angel runs to help him. She promises to
375:
Angel manages to escape from Dooney by shooting him in the testicles and reunites with Arthur, but Angel is upset when he reveals he still plans to go after
Kristic. She tells him Captain Industry isn't real, she just named Kristic because she wanted revenge on him. In a flashback it is revealed that
356:
Arthur's boss and close friend Paul becomes concerned for Arthur after he finds that Arthur is living at the construction depot with Angel. Paul tries to help, offering Arthur the opportunity to come and live with him, which Arthur rejects. That night, Arthur ventures out to spy on "Captain
Industry"
498:
studios declined to option the script because it did not fit into a particular genre; according to
Stebbings, " didn't want to touch it, but all the actors and their agents wanted to." Nicholas Tabarrok of independent production company Darius Films agreed to back the project after he "was hooked
360:
While Arthur is in surgery, Paul tells Angel to leave Arthur alone. Angel visits an unconscious Arthur and reveals that she ran away from home because her father was physically abusing her. After she leaves, Arthur opens his eyes, having heard everything. Angered at how Angel was treated, Arthur
371:
Angel becomes desperate for a fix and returns to Dooney. Dooney, recognizing her friendship with
Defendor and worried about how much Arthur knows about the shipment, takes her hostage and threatens Arthur to stay quiet. Arthur misinterprets Dooney's demand as never speaking again, and a silent
368:) and persuades him not to be too harsh. The judge agrees on the condition Arthur doesn't become Defendor again. A reporter approaches Paul and convinces him to let her run a story about Arthur as Defendor, and he agrees. People are inspired by Defendor's attempts to save lives and fight crime.
76:
395:. A memorial service is held for Defendor under a spray paint mural that was drawn in his honor, which is attended by Park and her daughter. The film ends with Angel sitting at her typewriter, writing stories about Arthur for a newspaper.
357:
and Dooney, and overhears them discussing an illegal shipment. Arthur reveals himself and after a short chase, he is beaten and shot. Angel finds the injured Arthur and contacts Paul who helps get Arthur to the hospital.
523:
was scheduled to take place from
November 21 through December 17, 2008, it was delayed until mid-January 2009 and continued through the end of January. Filming took place in and around Toronto and
494:' first to be produced, was likewise Stebbings' debut as a director. Stebbings wrote the first draft of its script in 2005 when the idea came to him "in one whole piece". H Numerous major
989:
349:
Arthur is arrested for assaulting Dooney, but
Fairbanks, the police captain in charge, sees Arthur as harmless and connects with him because their grandfathers both served in
384:
stop smoking crack and get a job. In an earlier conversation, Angel had revealed she had always had a talent in writing, which Arthur had described as being "like
364:
After Dr. Park absorbs all this, she admits she's not sure if his actions were wrong. She tells the judge that Arthur is mentally underdeveloped (revealed to be
46:
519:
and "turn over stones to find the rest". After he added all of his personal savings, the film was still $ 100,000 under its financial requirements. Though
511:
was originally set to star in the production, which was slated to begin in 2007, but withdrew. Stebbings obtained about one quarter of the film's
565:
acquired the distribution rights to the film in the United States and most of Asia, Europe and South
America. The Canadian rights were pre-sold to
475:
890:
614:
s reach occasionally exceeds its grasp, but this unique take on the superhero genre is held together by Woody
Harrelson's solid performance."
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999:
33:
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228:
963:
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805:
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gives the film a 74% rating based on 23 reviews, with an average score of 6.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "
1253:
745:
542:
s producers consulted with
Toronto social-services workers and with sex-workers'-rights activist and former sex worker
495:
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1047:
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391:
Dooney and Kristic are arrested. Dooney is sentenced to prison and Kristic is extradited to his home country of
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1243:
532:
433:
1298:
1021:
832:
682:
538:
To help Dennings increase the realism of her portrayal of her character's sex work and crack-cocaine use,
361:
walks down to the mall and beats up Angel's father, the laundromat owner from the beginning of the story.
1288:
584:(which produced the film) self-released the film in the United States theatrically on February 26, 2010.
376:
Arthur's grandfather, in order to spare him pain as a child, metaphorically blamed his mother's death on
864:
1278:
627:
with humorous bits, comic treats dropped in quickly and without fanfare", while David Germain of the
894:
38:
994:
941:
898:
365:
520:
323:
130:
714:
380:. Due to his developmental disability, Arthur has been chasing a delusion his entire life.
936:
8:
1233:
1217:
869:
377:
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318:
as Arthur Poppington, a regular man who adopts a superhero persona named Defendor, with
1026:
921:
810:
463:
1191:
1106:
524:
107:
919:
MacDonald, Gayle (January 30, 2009). "What made Woody trade his shorts for Sorels".
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1048:"'Defendor' Movie Hits Theaters Very Limited Feb 26; Comes Out On DVD, April 13"
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1076:"Woody Harrelson superhero satire Defendor gets a (small) release"
75:
937:"Woody Harrelson shooting "Defendor" at the Hamilton City Center"
836:
686:
528:
500:
865:"Defendor takes flight at DariusDefendor takes flight at Darius"
707:"Elias Koteas plays a bad cop in the superhero dramedy Defendor"
531:. Specific filming locations included the Hamilton City Centre,
24:
392:
372:
Arthur decides to once again becomes Defendor and save Angel.
1019:
499:
from the very first read", and agreed to fly Stebbings from
388:". She promises to be like her as Arthur dies in her arms.
418:
as Katerina "Kat" Debrofkowitz / Angel, a young prostitute
1020:
Fleming, Michael; Swart, Sharon (September 16, 2009).
603:received mixed reviews. Review aggregation website
964:"Prostitute turned Osgoode law student found dead"
833:"Woody Harrelson puts new spin on movie superhero"
746:"Peter Stebbings: Pushing himself to make changes"
776:
1225:
918:
803:
592:The film was released on DVD on April 13, 2010.
862:
987:
683:"Dennings pals up to Harrelson for "Defendor""
830:
680:
633:faults the film for its "inconsistent tone".
990:"'Young Victoria' closing Toronto Film Fest"
961:
1073:
743:
430:as Chuck Dooney, a corrupt police detective
1216:
1169:
1100:
574:Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group
563:Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group
74:
559:2009 Toronto International Film Festival
49:of all important aspects of the article.
804:Gentile, Petrina (September 10, 2009).
623:wrote writer/director Stebbings "fills
576:decided to not release the film in the
569:as part of the film's financing deals.
1226:
858:
856:
854:
852:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
676:
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45:Please consider expanding the lead to
955:
863:Strauss, Marise (December 15, 2008).
806:"TV star's ride is Border-line plain"
777:Thombare, Suparna (August 25, 2009).
478:as Radovan Kristic / Captain Industry
1309:English-language action comedy films
831:McCrank, John (September 12, 2009).
18:
1314:English-language action drama films
1304:English-language comedy-drama films
1022:"Sony Pictures picks up 'Defendor'"
849:
728:
669:
314:in his directorial debut. It stars
13:
507:so that he could meet the actors.
424:as Dr. Park, Arthur's psychiatrist
14:
1325:
1179:
1074:Davis, Dave (February 10, 2010).
988:Vlessing, Etan (August 4, 2009).
681:Kilday, Gregg (October 6, 2008).
744:Quill, Greg (January 10, 2009).
407:as Arthur Poppington / Defendor
23:
1274:English-language Canadian films
1140:
1113:
1094:
1067:
1040:
1013:
981:
962:Dale, Daniel (10 August 2011).
929:
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37:may be too short to adequately
883:
824:
797:
770:
699:
642:
557:had its world premiere at the
533:Humber River Regional Hospital
47:provide an accessible overview
1:
636:
587:
490:, whose screenplay was actor
482:
310:film written and directed by
1294:Superhero comedy-drama films
1269:2000s English-language films
713:. March 2009. Archived from
595:
303:is a 2009 Canadian-American
219:September 12, 2009
16:2009 film by Peter Stebbings
7:
1249:Canadian comedy-drama films
779:"An enigma called Lisa Ray"
410:Max Dreesen as young Arthur
234:February 19, 2010
10:
1330:
1254:Canadian independent films
549:
378:the "captains of industry"
535:and a Toronto warehouse.
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259:
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210:
200:
173:
165:
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149:
113:
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1264:Canadian vigilante films
1259:Canadian superhero films
895:Fox Searchlight Pictures
1239:2009 comedy-drama films
398:
337:
1103:"Defending 'Defendor'"
995:The Hollywood Reporter
942:The Hamilton Spectator
515:4 million budget from
366:fetal alcohol syndrome
1284:Films shot in Toronto
1244:2000s superhero films
617:Linda Barnard of the
521:principal photography
334:in supporting roles.
1299:2000s Canadian films
1289:Parody superheroes
1056:. February 9, 2010
922:The Globe and Mail
811:The Globe and Mail
464:Charlotte Sullivan
80:Promotional poster
1148:"Defendor (2009)"
1121:"Defendor (2009)"
1002:on August 7, 2009
893:(Press release).
650:"Defendor (2009)"
580:theatrically, so
466:as Fay Poppington
448:as Constable Mike
442:as Dominique Ball
296:
295:
108:Nicholas Tabarrok
64:
63:
1321:
1279:Film superheroes
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1105:. Archived from
1101:Rohit, Parimal.
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897:. Archived from
891:"Juno Press Kit"
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821:
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754:. Archived from
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703:
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696:
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678:
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664:
662:
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630:Associated Press
613:
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161:Geoff Ashenhurst
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1203:Rotten Tomatoes
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758:on May 11, 2009
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655:Box Office Mojo
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605:Rotten Tomatoes
598:
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517:Telefilm Canada
492:Peter Stebbings
485:
470:Tatiana Maslany
454:as Wendy Carter
405:Woody Harrelson
401:
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316:Woody Harrelson
312:Peter Stebbings
264:
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121:Woody Harrelson
99:Peter Stebbings
90:Peter Stebbings
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32:This article's
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1180:External links
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1109:on 2010-08-08.
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567:Alliance Films
561:in September.
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476:A. C. Peterson
473:
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461:
460:as Jack Carter
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41:the key points
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901:on 2009-02-05
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578:United States
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544:Wendy Babcock
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452:Kristin Booth
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434:Michael Kelly
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212:Release dates
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55:December 2023
48:
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1207:
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1161:. Retrieved
1151:
1142:
1130:. Retrieved
1124:
1115:
1107:the original
1096:
1085:. Retrieved
1079:
1069:
1058:. Retrieved
1053:The Playlist
1051:
1042:
1031:. Retrieved
1025:
1015:
1004:. Retrieved
1000:the original
993:
983:
971:. Retrieved
968:Toronto Star
967:
957:
946:. Retrieved
940:
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914:
903:. Retrieved
899:the original
885:
874:. Retrieved
868:
840:. Retrieved
826:
815:. Retrieved
809:
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788:. Retrieved
782:
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760:. Retrieved
756:the original
751:Toronto Star
749:
719:. Retrieved
715:the original
701:
690:. Retrieved
659:. Retrieved
653:
644:
628:
624:
620:Toronto Star
618:
616:
608:
600:
599:
591:
582:Darius Films
571:
554:
553:
539:
537:
487:
486:
446:Graham Abbey
428:Elias Koteas
416:Kat Dennings
390:
382:
374:
370:
363:
359:
355:
348:
344:psychiatrist
342:Dr. Park, a
341:
332:Kat Dennings
320:Elias Koteas
308:comedy-drama
299:
298:
297:
251:Running time
186:Darius Films
153:David Greene
141:Kat Dennings
126:Elias Koteas
52:
36:
34:lead section
711:Sci Fi Wire
509:Elliot Page
505:Los Angeles
458:Dakota Goyo
351:World War I
255:101 minutes
169:John Rowley
104:Produced by
86:Directed by
1234:2009 films
1228:Categories
1214:Metacritic
1087:2010-02-10
1060:2010-02-09
1033:2009-09-19
1006:2009-08-05
948:2009-04-17
905:2008-04-17
876:2009-04-17
842:2009-09-17
817:2009-09-10
790:2009-08-26
721:2009-04-17
692:2009-04-17
637:References
588:Home media
483:Production
289:Box office
238:2010-02-19
223:2009-09-12
175:Production
96:Written by
1163:6 October
1132:March 21,
1081:JoBlo.com
973:25 August
762:April 17,
596:Reception
572:However,
540:Defendor'
496:Hollywood
422:Sandra Oh
386:Lois Lane
328:Sandra Oh
305:vigilante
284:4 million
260:Countries
177:companies
158:Edited by
136:Sandra Oh
39:summarize
1209:Defendor
1198:Defendor
1187:Defendor
1158:Fandango
870:Playback
661:March 8,
625:Defendor
609:Defendor
601:Defendor
555:Defendor
525:Hamilton
488:Defendor
440:Lisa Ray
300:Defendor
270:Language
166:Music by
114:Starring
69:Defendor
1027:Variety
837:Reuters
687:Reuters
550:Release
529:Ontario
501:Toronto
472:as Olga
273:English
236: (
221: (
1126:Amazon
393:Serbia
278:Budget
263:Canada
227: (
612:'
1192:IMDb
1165:2021
1134:2010
975:2011
764:2009
663:2020
399:Cast
338:Plot
330:and
229:TIFF
1212:at
1201:at
1190:at
784:DNA
513:C$
503:to
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