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American Splendor
An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.
Release : | 2003 |
Rating : | 7.4 |
Studio : | Good Machine, |
Crew : | Production Design, Set Decoration, |
Cast : | Paul Giamatti Hope Davis Judah Friedlander James Urbaniak Earl Billings |
Genre : | Drama Comedy |
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I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Sick Product of a Sick System
Fantastic!
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
I had never heard of Harvey Pekar or his work before "American Splendor" got released. Now that I've seen the movie, I'm impressed. The movie makes clear that Pekar (Paul Giamatti) didn't want to condescend to his audience. He just wanted to show life as it was. No sugar-coating, just the truth. As is often the cast with great artists, misery made for some fine work. An unusual trick that the movie uses is to intersperse footage of the real Pekar talking about why he created the cartoons that he did. He had some good things to say.Basically, this is what movies should be. It should go without saying that Giamatti does a perfect job as Pekar. Equal credit should go to Hope Davis as a fan whom he marries, as well as some other cast members (you gotta love what Pekar's friend says about "Revenge of the Nerds"). I'd also like to see the other movies directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. Definitely see it.Watch for a young Josh Hutcherson as the boy dressed as Robin.
Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti) has always been an oddball guy bordering on being a misanthrope. He's a file clerk at a VA hospital in Cleveland and collects jazz albums. In 1962, he befriends outsider comics artist Bob Crumb at a garage sale. In 1975 after his wife leaves him, he starts writing stories for Crumb to illustrate. He becomes famous to his fans and to Joyce Brabner (Hope Davis). She is almost as awkward as him and they start a relationship.Paul Giamatti is truly amazing and Harvey is such a great character for him. I simply love the mixing of the real characters with the comics and the actors. This style is brilliant and fits the subject matter. It becomes an electric blend of reality and surrealism.
This movie is about a normal person named "Harvey Pekar" (Paul Giamatti) who lives an ordinary life in Cleveland, Ohio. His life is detailed in a comic book named "American Splendor". At any rate, the entire film traces his boring life over the course of several years. And it does a great job of capturing the humdrum existence of him. As a result, what we get is a film that is quite ordinary and depressing. At least that's how I saw it. Now I realize that this film has gathered a great deal of critical acclaim. It was even nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay" along with winning an award at the Cannes Film Festival and being nominated for a Golden Globe in addition to several other awards as well. That's fine and maybe there are plenty of people who really enjoy this type of movie. But in all honesty it simply didn't do anything for me. Slightly below average.
I can't believe this abysmal trash has managed to attract a 7+ rating. It's very rare to find a film with absolutely nothing to offer, but 'American Splendor' has achieved this feat and then some.The film revolves around a one-dimensional character who is trying to make a living as a comic-book writer. He goes to the shops, chats with his friends, has dinner....and that's about it.The fact that nothing happens wouldn't be such a problem if the characters were interesting or likable. They are neither. It's just the day to day life of a dull man, doing dull things with his dull friends.Things I would rather do than watch this train-wreck of a movie again would include getting stabbed.Absolutely awful!