Director Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Studio HIGH FLIERS
Run time 97 mins
Certificate 15
Genres Drama
Language English
Released 21st May 2004
AMERICAN SPLENDOR is about Harvey Pekar, the downtrodden yet hilarious Cleveland comic book artist, titled after Pekar's autobiographical series. Played by actor Paul Giamatti, Pekar also appears as himself, giving the film a documentary feeling with some behind-the-scenes on-set shots. Directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini maintain this balance between the actors and the real-life characters--Pekar's wife Joyce and workmate Toby also appear on set as themselves--while creating a funny, but heartwarming tale that contains Pekar's life, work, and uniquely weird perspectives.
Peckar is a pessimistic file clerk with no hope of ever improving his lot in life, his boring job, scruffy apartment, and bad attitude. Amazingly set in his ways, Pekar's constant self-doubt is clearly a front for his prolific interests in music and art. When his friend Robert Crumb (James Urbaniak) gets his big break as a comic book artist, Pekar decides to try his hand at the craft. Though he can't draw, his stories are good, and Crumb agrees to illustrate the pictures. Soon several artists are illustrating Pekar's American Splendor series, and the comic book's readership grows. The film streams through the events of Pekar's life--meeting wife Joyce Brabner, appearing on David Letterman*s TV show, battling with cancer, and adopting a daughter--always showing Pekar's no-frills outlook on life. AMERICAN SPLENDOR is a creative and punchy film and invites viewers into the odd world of Pekar and his comic-book persona.
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