...of the Everyman and his struggle for validation, "Strongman" will likely remain one of those films that gets ignored by the mass of IMDbers. Its arc is simple, its lessons understated. Its subject is very nearly unremarkable: a man who wants to be more than who he is, and steadfastly refuses to recognize his own self-imposed limitations. There's something intrinsically ennobling about that, and yet somehow utterly mundane and almost depressing. I was reminded of several thematically similar documentaries, "The Dungeon Masters" and "Confessions of a Superhero," which also explore the hearts and minds of common men and women who aspire to something beyond the norms of their humdrum lives. Very watchable for all students of humanity.
7 Reviews
Cinema verite too infrequently offered
gradyharp8 May 2014
Zachary Levy is to be commended for producing and directing this very poignant reach for fame in the gentle soul of one man, Stanley Pleskun who uses the moniker 'Stainless Steel'. A man with a dream of notoriety, our character is a man strong enough to bend a penny with just his fingers. When Stainless Steel reaches middle age, career disappointments and difficult personal relationships that begin to test his strengths - aging parents, his alcoholic brother, his beautiful but timid announcer-girlfriend, and his show-biz agents and strength rivals. All the while we honor a man who simply dreams and tries to overcome the role life has dealt him. This is a film that lingers in the heart and mind long after the closing credits.
Complete train wreck
odinshield-828253 March 2021
This was the worst piece of crap documentary I have ever seen, Stan the main person in this documentary is a cro-magnon moron, He is a drunk a slob and a gigantic loser, He has no real physical strength, he's a gigantic crybaby And very abusive to his girlfriend. Do not waste your time with this movie, It is depressing and mentally exhausting.
moving portrait of a strongman
flintcase26 September 2011
"Strongman" follows Stanley Pleskun (who goes by the goofy moniker "Stanless Steel") as his career as steel twister, car lifter, and penny bender stumbles and he finds his day job as scrap metal collector taking over his time and energy.
He's surrounded by a girlfriend, Barbara, who had dreamed of Hollywood stardom and money and now finds herself stuck with Stan, a scruffy brother who's got a drinking problem, and a grandmother who resembles a corpse. As the turmoil of his life rises (things get tough with his girlfriend) he has to finally admit, "you can bend steel, but you can't bend people." "Strongman" isn't structured with an edge-of-your seat payoff or ticking clock (some kind of contest, or a final big stunt) and because of that it feels honest, and real. It sticks to one slice of life moving to the next resolving to its poignant end. It's shot with a traditional cinema verité aesthetic: no voice over, no title cards, no musical score.
While documentarians who take their cue from Errol Morris and seek out the quirky oddballs of society can often make films that feel exploitive (hipsters getting a good laugh at some nut's expense) this wonderful film succeeds where those films fail in its respectful heartfelt look deep inside the life of a man trying to find strength.
He's surrounded by a girlfriend, Barbara, who had dreamed of Hollywood stardom and money and now finds herself stuck with Stan, a scruffy brother who's got a drinking problem, and a grandmother who resembles a corpse. As the turmoil of his life rises (things get tough with his girlfriend) he has to finally admit, "you can bend steel, but you can't bend people." "Strongman" isn't structured with an edge-of-your seat payoff or ticking clock (some kind of contest, or a final big stunt) and because of that it feels honest, and real. It sticks to one slice of life moving to the next resolving to its poignant end. It's shot with a traditional cinema verité aesthetic: no voice over, no title cards, no musical score.
While documentarians who take their cue from Errol Morris and seek out the quirky oddballs of society can often make films that feel exploitive (hipsters getting a good laugh at some nut's expense) this wonderful film succeeds where those films fail in its respectful heartfelt look deep inside the life of a man trying to find strength.
Complex, simple, sad, and real.
paul_alpine25 February 2014
This is the story of a man who is the center of his universe, as well as his girlfriend and families. He is raw, and real, and honest emotionally without a socially conscious filter. The director allows us to see this world for what it truly is, without setups, staging or borders. It is filmed is such a manner that it is almost believable that nobody in the film knows they are being filmed. Nobody plays to the camera, there is clearly no hair or makeup artist, it is human nature in it's truest form, and for that I found it moving and beautiful.
In this day and age of all that is false and beautiful, it is so refreshing to see something real and occasionally ugly. Stanley is an egomaniac, but he is also soft spoken, and has strangely endearing quality. His girlfriend is a truly giving soul, who's even keel demeanor in dealing with her emotional wreck of a man is often astounding. She has given her life in support of his, and it's heartfelt and simultaneously saddening at once as it's presented in this intimate setting.
In this day and age of all that is false and beautiful, it is so refreshing to see something real and occasionally ugly. Stanley is an egomaniac, but he is also soft spoken, and has strangely endearing quality. His girlfriend is a truly giving soul, who's even keel demeanor in dealing with her emotional wreck of a man is often astounding. She has given her life in support of his, and it's heartfelt and simultaneously saddening at once as it's presented in this intimate setting.
Beautiful Raw Documentary
faxanadonts8 May 2014
I love this type of documentary. Unlike supposed, 'reality TV', this documentary contains poignant raw moments. Similar to Grey Gardens, this film displays straightforward eccentric characters being themselves and by being themselves the base longings shared through humanity can be felt in a way that pulls at the heart. Strongman, 'Stanley Pleskun', wants to be impressive, wants to be loved, and wants to be strong. Whether it is Stanley Pleskun or Stephen Hawking these are the things that drive all humans and documentaries like this remind us that no matter how complicated we might be, or how complicated we might believe ourselves to be, we can all see ourselves in Stanley Pleskun and the people that surround him, and this is both beautiful and sad at the same time, which is no coincidence as life is comedy and tragedy, beauty and sadness at the same time, and often contain moments which are absurd in a hilarious way. If nothing else it is worth watching for the absurd hilariousness of the conversations between Barbie and Stanley.
A Human Train Wreck
billcr1216 March 2021
Like most people, I will slow down to look at a car wreck. Stanley Pleskun is more than that, he is a human plane crash. The camera follows this modern day Plato, while, at one point, he travels to England to perform one of his strong man stunts. Three Brits are placed in a cage as Stan lifts the cage with one finger. Later, our hero attempts to lift a Toyota pick-up truck with mixed results. His companion Barbara is a complete mystery to me. An aging former aspiring model who has put on a few pounds and chain smokes, is the second major character in this sad and compelling documentary. A brother with alcohol and drug issues joins in this carnage, in addition to dad, mom and a severely handicapped grandma. This is real life filmmaking at its finest and I could watch another eight hours of these troubled people.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
