AMERICAN SPLENDOR

[FeverDog420]

http://www.americansplendormovie.com/photos/images/still13.jpg

The plot: An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis

Never heard of the guy, and never saw Crumb, so I have no entry point in discussing American Splendor other than to say it received awards at both Cannes and Sundance, and currently holds a superb 7.4/10 rating at IMDb.

American Splendor is now playing in New York, Los Angeles and Cleveland.

[Neesh]

This looks like it could be really good, and I might check it out next week. Paul Giamatti is an incredible actor, take a look at his performance in Todd Solondz' Storytelling. He was also great in the Truman Show, but it was a small part. Cant recall him in anything else.

[Scarface98.9]

I hope it plays near me soon, since I'm really looking forward to it

[FeverDog420]

Originally posted by Neesh
This looks like it could be really good, and I might check it out next week. Paul Giamatti is an incredible actor, take a look at his performance in Todd Solondz' Storytelling. He was also great in the Truman Show, but it was a small part. Cant recall him in anything else.

I think he was Pig Vomit in Private Parts.

[ilovemovies]

My favorite Paul Giamitti role was that evil producer he played in Big Fat Liar. He was so awsome in that!


He's also in Planet of the Apes (2001), Man on the Moon and has a small part in Saving Private Ryan.


As for this movie it looks amazing but I'll probably have to wait for DVD.

[Strider]

"American Splendor" looks great! I'll most certainly try to check it out in my area soon.

[jmcpher_007]

I simply cannot wait to see this film. Hopefully it comes to my area soon.

[SykkBoy]

I've enjoyed Paul Giamatti in everything he's been in (yes, even in "Big Momma's House") so for his appearance in the flick alone, I'll check this out. The fact I loved "Crumb" should bode well for this movie too. I'm not sure if it will even play here, but if it does, I'll definitely go see it and if not, then it'll be high on my rental list whe it hist videostore shelves.

[rushmore beauty]

This one looks like it'll be this year's Ghost World (9/10....on my Top 3 of 2001) and I cannot wait to see this filck. I also love Crumb (9/10) and I know this one will make it onto my Top 10 of 2003. Cannot wait...it opens here this Friday :)

[MartinGPB]

saw a screenign of it last wednesday- it was fantastic! just as offbeat as ghost world, but more charming and accessible- not "heartwarming" by any means, but some will definitely be moved- and its hilarious! possible oscar nod for giamatti- hope davis was great too

[blankpage]

Looks like one of the most original movies to come out in recent years - reminding me of Ghost World-, and will most likely be in my top 5 for the best of 2003.

[Neil McCauley]

Just saw it today. I'd say its pretty far from uplifting - I haven't felt a kick in the gut like that for a while.

I'm not sure if I like the formula...


***SEMI-SPOILERS BELOW



























Where the film intersplices between drama and documentary. I can't recall another film that merged the two so well about a real person. I hadn't heard a thing about the real person... So for a while I wasn't sure if the Letterman stuff was Gump/CGI'ed!

Anyway, a great break from the usual blah blah...

[Scarface98.9]

Originally posted by rushmore beauty
This one looks like it'll be this year's Ghost World (9/10....
It looks that way, and funny you should mention that since GW came out almost at the same time 2 years ago

[BakeTheMooCow]

AMERICAN SPLENDOR is an original and quirky part-biopic part-documentary that manages to portray a very ordinary person in an intersting way. Harvey Pekar works as a file clerk from Cleveland, where he meets artist Robert Crumb at a garage sale. The meeting inspires him to create a comic of his own based on his own life and day-to-day struggles. The title of the comic book is American Splendor and it becomes a relative underground success. The movie follows Pekar as he grows a bigger fanbase, meets his wife Joyce, makes appearances on Letterman and also battles a life-threatening disease.

The acting is good by everyone, particularly Paul Giamatti who nails Pekar's mannerisms perfectly. This is repeatedly thrown in the audience's face by interlacing the movie with footage of the real-life Pekar in a studio during an interview. The character of Toby Radloff is shown in an over-the-top way as a "borderline autistic" super nerd and the real-life Toby also shows up a few times.

American Splendor is a kind of a cross between ADAPTATION and GHOST WORLD. But while those films were my favorites of 2002 and 2001 respectively, this didn't affect me on the level I was hoping for. The self-referential aspects of it were manipulative, and at one point it actually felt like the only reason this movie was made was to help Harvey Pekar earn a few bucks. Adaptation was much more intelligent when blurring the line between a movie and the making of it. Ghost World had stronger characters and Thora Birch.

This movie is somewhat captivating and funny, but it's not groundbreaking or a masterpiece. It tries to find the line where it can take an anti-Hollywood stance, but still be entertaining enough to be worth your time. At the very beginning, we're told "If you're the kind of person looking for romance or fantasy or escapism, you've got the wrong movie." Adaptation and Ghost World both made this distinction indirectly and they pulled it off. Here, it's a loophole.. for any movie that can be so self-depreciative and honest right off the bat, can do just about anything and get away with it.

7/10

[The Delfonics]

AMERICAN SPLENDOR - (8/10)

Movie #3 of 3 on the day for me. So far Cabin Fever rocked and Once Upon a Time in Mexico was a let down. But Giamatti (?) came through and delivered a great performance. The movie is something Ive never seen before and I guess you can say the same for the comic its based on. This movie was a real treat and as long as the movie runs, it never gets boring. A great art house.. and was that Molly Shannon I saw? lol

[FeverDog420]

Originally posted by The Delfonics
...as long as the movie runs, it never gets boring.

Just wondering what you mean by that. Are you referring to the movie's length?

[The Delfonics]

Originally posted by FeverDog420
Just wondering what you mean by that. Are you referring to the movie's length?

When reviewing art house flicks on a board that mostly doesnt go to them, I try to add stuff like that in every art house review because a lot of my freinds say "oh, art house, probably long and boring?". But I guess no matter what, if you dont get into Sam's life its hard to stay entertained by the rest. I actually worded that wrong, I wanted to make it sound like the movie, as much as it a drama, it never gets dull. I wrote that review pretty quick last night because I had 2 more to write. I think the movie was only an hour and half or so?

[flowrchild]

American Splendor: 8/10. #4 favorite movie of 2003.

I really don't feel like reviewing this movie right now, so I'll just say that I saw it and enjoyed it. It is an entertaining way to kill 2 hours. The acting was great all around and I appreciated the dry sarcastic humor throughout the whole movie. If you stick Ghost World, Office Space, and Man On The Moon in a blender, you will end up with this movie.

[Neesh]

I loved this movie! I never heard of American Splendor (the comic) or Harvey Pekar before this movie, although I clearly remember seeing Toby the nerd on MTV back in the 80's. Funny shit.

[Scarface98.9]

I saw this movie yesterday, and won't review it like I did the summer movies. I"ll just say it was a really good movie, and is my 2nd, 3rd or 4th favorite movie this year, though I'm not sure, I don't keep track.

8.5/10

[Droog989]

I see this tomorrow, as long as that East-coast film festival show doesn't run to long and cut into the movies showtime. I can't wait, I can recall the last time I've been so eager to see a movie. The great buzz certainly helps.

[Narst]

Very interesting and touching movie. The backbone was definitely the inexplicably cute romance between Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis. The beginning was a little hard going and the splicing in of the real Harvey Pekar was a little jarring but in the end it all came together very well. A lot of really sweet scenes mixed in with the Pekar attitude. The scene with Harvey and his friend Toby sitting in the car talking about Revenge of the Nerds has to be one of the best scenes I've seen in a movie this year. Very funny with a sentimental and charming excecution.

[The Lolo]

A solid 3 star movie

The footage they used of the actual Pekar on the Letterman Show worked nicely in the film. *Tiny Spoiler* I wish they showed the actual footage from the episode when he freaked out on Letterman though- but it's possibe for some reason NBC wouldn't let them have it.

[AppleHuntr]

I was expecting to be bored by this movie mainlyy because the plot/story didnt interest me too much, but I came out really liking it. It was quirky yet honest, while its very funny theres an underlying tone of sadness to it all. The performances were top-notch, although the best part would have to be the button I got from the lobby of the theater that says "Genuine Nerd: American Splendor". hurrah!

8/10

[mofopott]

Being a overall comic buff (underground & mainstream) and also a big fan of the films Crumb and Ghost World I had been looking forward to this film since seeing the trailer for it! I was not dissapointed! American Splendor is both quirky and charming with a stand-out performance by the highly underrated Paul Giamatti.
I especially dug the scenes with self confessed nerd Toby and the real-life Letterman bits. I reccomend this film to anyone who is sick of big cgi/star filled techno sountrack box office eye candy and wants to see a simple, yet endearing, story of real life trials and tribulation! :D

[darkface]

Rented it for the first time today, and i was expecting more from it. It left me with sort of a bad taste idk. Just didn't do much for me. It had some funny moments, and the main guy did do a good job on the character, but it didn't evolve into much. Guess i must have missed something but thought it was a bit overrated so i'll give it a...

6/10

[BadCoverVersion]

My 4th favourite of 2003.

The Toby Radloff character steals the show IMO, but Giamatti is superb in every respect.

Witty, touching...and hugely entertaining.

8/10

[blacksnake]

American Splendor, is based on the American Splendor comic books written by Harvey Pekar, and is also based on the graphic novel Our Cancer Year written by Harvey Pekar and his wife Joyce Brabner. When the film begins we are introduced to Harvey Pekar, who lives in Cleveland, and works as a file clerk in a hospital. Harvey, is a big record and comic book collector. One day Harvey meets Robert Crumb (who later became a famous underground cartoonist for such comics as Fritz The Cat), and they became friends. After several annoying and just everyday incidents happen to Harvey, day to day he is impressed by Robert's comics so he starts to write about what happens to him in his real life and draws them in comic book form. The only problem is Harvey can't draw. Soon, Harvey meets up with Robert again who is now big for his comic books and he takes a look at Harvey's comics. Robert, likes them and offers to draw them for Harvey. Soon the first issue of Harvey's comic American Splendor hits comic book stores and he starts going around writing about his day to day happenings and the people he knows. One day in a small American town a woman named Joyce Brabner, who works at a comic book shop is looking for the latest American Splendor comic book and notices that they are all gone. She then writes to Harvey, and tells him that she is a fan and asks if he has an extra copy. Harvey, keeps in contact with Joyce, and after talking to her on the phone one day he invites her down to Cleveland. After staying with him for about a week Joyce, decides she wants to get married to Harvey, and so they get married. Harvey, starts to become more famous and is often on The Late Show With David Letterman, and soon finds out that he has cancer. The real life Harvey Pekar often narrates the film and it also shows his real life wife Joyce Brabner. Winner of The BSFC Award for Best Screenplay at The Boston Society Of Film Critics Awards, The FIPRESCI Award for screenwriters and directors (Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini) at The Cannes Film Festival, The CFCA Award for Most Promising Performer (for the screenwriters and directors) at The Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, The Russell Smith Award for (the film's screenwriters and directors) at The Dallas Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, The Critics Award (for the film's screenwriters and directors) at The Deauville Film Festival, The New Director's Award at The Edinburgh International Film Festival, The Pauline Kael Breakout Award (for the film's screenwriters and directors) at The Florida Film Critics Circle Awards, The Open Palm Award (for the film's directors and screenwriters) at The Gotham Awards, The LAFCA Award for Best Picture and Best Screenplay at The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, The NBR Award for Best Breakthrough Performance By An Actor (Paul Giamatti, who plays Harvey Pekar) at The National Board Of Review, The NSFC Award for Best Film and Best Screenplay at The National Society Of Film Critics Awards, The NYFCC Award for Best Actress (Hope Davis, who plays Joyce Brabner) and Best First Film at The New York Film Critics Circle Awards, The OFCS Award for Best Breakthrough Filmmaker at The Online Film Critics Society Awards, The SDFCS Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at The San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, The Seattle Film Critics Award for Best Actress, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at The Seattle Film Critics Awards, The Grand Jury Prize (for the film's directors and screenwriters) at The Sundance Film Festival and The TFCA Award for Best First Feature at The Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. American Splendor, has good direction, a good adapted screenplay, great performances by both Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis, good cinematography, good film editing and good production design. Before, I saw the film American Splendor, I read a book with a compilation of comics from American Splendor, and most of what was in that book was in this film. I loved the book and I also ended up loving this film. American Splendor, is endearing, clever, interesting, very entertaining, very original, quirky and overall the film takes an every day man's life and turns it into a movie and this is more entertaining, smart and endearing than any fiction I have seen this year. As the film's tagline suggests Ordinary Life Is Pretty Complex Stuff. This is truly the best film of 2003. If you haven't seen it already then go see it now.

[Benny]

This movie was great and original, and I don't understand why it got shafted out of many deserved Oscar nominations. I'm not going to post a full review, but I have to say that the acting was great, especially Giamatti as Harvey Pekar himself. It was also great seeing the real people themselves, because as you are watching the film, it's hard to imagine that they actually exist in real life, yet they do, and you see how wonderfully each actor portrays his/her character. Toby the "Neeeeeeeeerd" was also great.

9/10- #4 on my 2003 list

[sharkstank]

saw it last night

american splendor----****
wow. awesome movie, where everything was great. only faults were that it was distracting to me the real life people talking while the actors were sitting in the background. i dont know, it felt weird. and joyce just married him? weird. it started off really slow , but really got going. im too lazy right now to list all of the pros, but it is one of the best films of 2003.

WWWHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO