Flyerman

Now matter how you react to Flyerman, there's no doubt that documentary filmmakers Jeff Stephenson and Jason Tan have found a fascinating subject for their cinema vérité character study: Mark Vistorino, a vain, eccentric, obsessive-compulsive wannabe superstar whose dreams of celebrity and fame are tempered by the harsh reality that he is, in fact, a tenacious but rather pathetic guy who hands out flyers for a living. Vistorino is not, however, financially bad off: he has a generous grandmother who pays his bills, his father earned a fortune in the meat business, and Mark has a sideline business as a photographer, in addition to being a bottom-rung celebrity who haunts the crowded lines at clubs and concerts handing out talent-agency flyers advertising for "Movie Extras Needed." Mark is clearly the spoiled product of his disapproving father and supportive mother (there's more than a little Boogie Nights desperation to his career aspirations), a man whose fears and insecurities translate into a boorish, extroverted personality that's simultaneously charismatic, off-putting, and even a little disturbing. In another life, this handsome 40-year-old might have achieved showbiz success, but as "flyerman"--and later as the wealthy inheritor of his father's big-city condominium buildings--he's really just an irresponsible blowhard who spends money "like water," and fails to accomplish any of his lofty and self-serving goals. In this warts-and-all profile, Mark is candidly aware of his own quirks, foibles, and shortcomings, but he's also quite egocentric, and the filmmakers probably didn't have to twist his arm to gain entry into his attention-grabbing lifestyle. To their credit, Stephenson and Tan have crafted a compelling real-life portrait of this peculiar man, providing constant surprises and revelations to keep the viewer involved. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a feature-length commentary with Stephenson, Tan, and "Flyerman" Vistorino, as well as deleted/extended scenes (16 min.). Bottom line: a decent extras package for an interesting profile.] (J. Shannon)