American Splendor
 

Just got back from a special screeing of American Splendor, the autobiographical film about underground comic writer / file clerk Harvey Pekar.

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0305206/...dor_poster.jpg

What can I say - it captures very well the chaotic life of Pekar and much of it is verbatim from his comics. At the same time, the film is very self-aware, featuring Pekar himself along with friends and family alongside their screen counterparts. So, you can see immediately how close the acting is to reality and the humor is genuine yet touching. You laugh at the jokes but realize at some level it is/isn't funny because its real.

BTW, the film won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance and the critics prize at Cannes, so no doubt the critics will treat it very well when the limited release starts later this month.

After the film there was a Q&A with Pekar himself - I will spoiler this if you'd prefer not to know anything at all about the film. In fact most of it will only make sense after you watch the film anyway.






9/10

I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie. The real Harvey vs. actor Harvey sounds interesting. I wanna see how well it's pulled off.

Does Crumb have a big role in the film? I've seen the trailer for this a couple of times and that actor playing him drives me nuts, the impression seems so forced.

I'm sooooo there! :)

Crumb was only in the film in I think 4 scenes, so not a very big role - and someone did ask Pekar in the Q&A about the portrayal of Crumb in the film. Pekar replied that the film captured the relationship between Crumb & Pekar, if not an accurate portrayal of Crumb himself.

This looks great. Can't wait to see it.

Paul Giamatti seems to have found his place in a lot
of these smaller more character-driven roles.

SO many great indie movies coming out within the next few weeks. "The Secret Lives of Dentists", "The Magdalene Sisters", "Casa De Los Babys" (by John Sayles), "13", "Lost in Translation" (the new Sophia Coppola film with Bill Murray). To name a few. Although I've really enjoyed the movies this summer, it's nice to look forward one's that'll make you think :)

Can't wait to see this. I've been in the VA where Pekar works and I'm surprised it didn't turn him into more a negative/down person.

This was even better than I what I had hoped for, original, completely different, briliantly acted film, that offers a wide range of emotions and great inventive film styles and techniques.

Finally the first 2003 film that really really impressed me.

I am looking forward to this more than anything in the immediate movie future. :D

Growing up in Cleveland this is going to resonate with me on so many levels--I used to see Pekar walking up and down Lee Rd. and in the comic shop near my high school I used to frequent. Truly a one-of-a-kind guy and talent.

I read a good bit of the script when auditioning for this a couple of years ago and thought it was extremely well-written. I'll be interested to see it.

This movie looks very interesting. I first saw Pekar years ago on Late Night w/ David Letterman pushing the release of American Splendor (the comic) The guy was wound so tight and was so high strung you'd think it was a setup interview Dave had done (he used to a few joke interviews back in the old days.) No matter what Dave said it seemed to annoy/aggravate/offend Pekar more and more. He had him on again a few months later (I think this time to make fun of him after seeing how he acted on the last interview) but Pekar was 100% relaxed and it was a complete 180 degree difference than his previous demeanor. Dave didn't like that as he wasn't as fun, mainly just a bit grumpy, and I don't think he ever had him back on again. Since then I've been interested in this guy.

I've always wondered which show he was on drugs (or both, or neither) and how he thought the interview went. I think his main problem was that at the time he was a fairly anti-social person who was suddenly thrust out into the (smalltime) limelight of book promotion.

Are you a reader of Pekar's comic books? If you're interested be put out a new series of American Splendor published by Dark Horse around 1997 or 98 I think. One of them covers Harvey going back to appear on Letterman.

Thanks, I didn't realize that. I'll have to check it out.

This movie somehow slipped under my radar, but now that I'm aware of it I can't wait to see it. I enjoyed reading the comic and fondly remember Pekar's first infamous appearance on Letterman way back when. The film opens in Toronto on the 15th. :)

This week's EW has SIX full pages of a Pekar comic called "My Movie Year," good stuff!

WOW. For the first time in my life I am going to buy a copy of Entertainment Weekly.

I was just about to post that. Read it a few minutes ago.

Not familiar with Pekar, but this looks interesting. One thing though: given the title, how is it that Mena Suvari isn't in this? :)

I went looking for this last night but couldn't find it. Is it the EW with Queer Eye For The Straight Guy on the cover or something else?

It's issue #723, August 15th

with "One Shocking Summer" the Box Office Roundup issue

Pekar, Brabner, the directors and Hope Davis were on "Fresh Air" on NPR last week. If anyone is interested the interviews are archived at http://freshair.npr.org/

American Splendor is an extremely well crafted indie film. It has so many places where it could have been gimicky and does the right thing at each of them. It's extremly well acted, innovatively put together and breaks new ground in the bio pic space by intergrating reality and fiction.

The main character is however completely unsympathetic and the film can be quite depressing.

Walking out of the film I knew I had seen one of the best movies of 2003, but it wasn't all that enjoyable.... if that makes sense.

- G

Check for a cameo by a friend of mine-Eytan Mirsky.

He's supposed to be playing music in a bar. He's also done some great songs for "Happiness" and "The Tao of Steve".

Are you sure it was a bar? I think his number was on a stage....

I haven't seen the movie yet, but when he was here for filming we went out to dinner and I thought he said bar-just knew he was playing music in the clip. He figured it would end up being cut out of the flick.

Saw this and loved it. All the acting was fantastic, as was the directing, and the script, etc. The self-referential parts worked, and they never overplayed it.

Watching Paul Giamatti react to the real Pekar and Toby was a riot. The ending was very touching.

Here's the release schedule for American Splendor. LINK

It seems to be enjoying some of the best reviews of the year - its currently at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes (100% cream of the crop.)

In fact, the worst review I read was on this site's 'Aisle View' where the major criticism seems to be that the main character is 'unsympathetic.' Which is the same thing Geoff says in a post above, but then he does call it one of the best movies of 2003. I guess the point is, it doesn't take a totally sympathetic protagonist to make a good movie.

Today we received a Harvey Pekar nodder in the mail.

Several months back my wife took a survey and there was a drawing. The winners got free tix to the movie and some others got the bobblehead doll.

Just got back from this. I am impressed, but it's so hard to watch something you feel close to because of your background...I'm glad Harvey's being recognized for his art. The movie really seems to be touching people. Excellent performances and direction, wonderful filmmaking.

BTW Buford, Eytan's song was :lol: It was great to see how clueless (relatively) people on both coasts were (or are) about what Harvey does and who he is.

well I dunno, I think he's a brilliant masterful wonderful, delightful sunshine smiling creature. I WANNA MARRY HIM!!!!!!

and have his children.... several.. maybe 8 or so.. and all of them can be depressing..er.. I mean SUNSHINEY little versions of him for me to enjoy on a daily basis! =D

A really good, funny and touching film.

Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis are great, and they have many quirky and humorous scenes.

But the "pain" that Pekar goes through is not funny at all even he is able to somewhat make light of it.

A rare balance of comedy and drama that works.

I've never read an issue of AS, but if I knew where to buy one I definitely would.

This is just another one of those movies that helps restore my faith
in American cinema.

**** out of ****

Yup, quite an enjoyable movie.

Also, they made it a point to say that Giamatti looks nothing like Pekar, but am I the only one who found them to look pretty similar? Or maybe it's just the "everyday man" look that fooled me into thinking like that.

I saw this today. I've never read AS, but the movie was excellent.

Saw this over the weekend and it's easily the best film I've seen this year. If there's any justice, this will be Paul Giamatti's breakthrough role and he'll go from great character actor to bigger starring roles. I don't think he'll ever be a movie star due to his everyman looks, but this film should do for him what Fargo did for Bill Macy.

Between this and The Secret Lives of Dentists, Hope Davis should get some nods for best actress.

Lots of laughs, some more painful than others, lots of touching moments. Lots of times when you realize that you are watching yourself (the grocery store checkout line, that's me).

Can't recommend this one enough.

Resurrecting this thread to lead those interested to Harvey Pekar's latest offering "My Film Future (Movie Producers Are Not Flooding Me With Projects)". Can be viewed at

www.freetimes.com

I just saw this. I thought it was very good. Paul Giamatti did a wonderful job. I am still pissed that he got snubbed for an Oscar.

As a big fan of Pekar's comics for years, I'd been dying to see this and it never came to my tiny town, so I bought the DVD as a blind buy immediately. Great stuff, reminds me a lot of both "Crumb" and "Ghost World" and wonderful performances all around. Just wish the DVD had a little more special features (a longer making-of doc would've been nice), but the movie alone is one of my top 5 of 2003 now.

This was my favorite film of 2003, just inching out "LOTR: ROTK." I agree that Giamatti should have been nominated for Best Actor. The fact that Jude Law got nominated and not Giamatti really steams me. Aside from reminding me also of "Crumb" and "Ghost World," the film also reminded me of "Annie Hall"-era Woody Allen. That is my all-time favorite film, so that's probably why I just love "American Splendor" so much.

Am I crazy for not liking this all that much? I mean, I didn't hate it. I did find it to be quite interesting. But I never seemed to warm up to any of the characters (although it was very well acted).