American Splendor reviews (2003)

American Splendor

2003

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

from 17,355 members

Harvey Pekar is file clerk at the local VA hospital. His interactions with his co-workers offer some relief from the monotony, and their discussions encompass everything from music to the decline of American culture to new flavors of jellybeans and life itself. At home, Harvey fills his days with reading, writing and listening to jazz. His apartment is filled with thousands of books and LPs, and he regularly scours Cleveland's thrift stores and garage sales for more, savoring the rare joy of a 25-cent find. It is at one of these junk sales that Harvey meets Robert Crumb, a greeting card artist and music enthusiast. When, years later, Crumb finds international success for his underground comics, the idea that comic books can be a valid art form for adults inspires Harvey to write his own brand of comic book. An admirer of naturalist writers like Theodore Dreiser, Harvey makes his "American Splendor" a truthful, unsentimental record of his working-class life, a warts-and-all self portrait. First published in 1976, the comic earns Harvey cult fame throughout the 1980s and eventually leads him to the sardonic Joyce Barber, a partner in a Delaware comic book store who end ups being Harvey's true soul mate as they experience the bizarre byproducts of Harvey's cult celebrity stature.

American Splendor details

Format:	15 DVD
Starring:	Paul Giamatti, Chris Ambrose, Hope Davis
Directors:	Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman
Genre:	Drama - War
Studio:	HIGH FLIERS

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
American Splendor	15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	1 hour 37 minutes
Rental release:	21 May 2004
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review American Splendor

Pekar Pie!!!

By Gonzo Soul from The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge , 06 May 2004

[Highly rated reviewer]

Wow!!!

This is a fantastic film, in my opinion, although its not going to be everybodies cup of char. I thought it was interesting how it manages to blur the different realities of real life, film and comic/animation. There is some great characters in there as well as some quite poignant and touching moments.

This is film is especailly interesting for people who love underground comix.

peace. gonz
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American Splendid

By Oldbloke (308 reviews) from Sidmouth , 07 Feb 2012

Life-hating Cleveland filing clerk decides to document his dreary existence in comic book form and achieves fame if not exactly fortune. Droll comedy is wonderfully original and entertaining. Directors mix and match documentary, cartoon strips, monologues, you name it. The masterstroke however is to periodically cut to interviews with the real people, because only then do you realise that the actors are not exaggerating their characters for comic effect, this is what they are really like! If there is a problem, it's that marvellous as Paul Giamatti is, his Harvey Pekar is not as funny or charismatic as the real thing. Not interested in comic books? Doesn't matter, this is a unique and surprisingly touching little movie that will have you smiling for days.
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I wouldn't bother

By Jumoak (14 reviews) , 02 Oct 2011

A little dull. I wouldn't really bother. I will believe the reviews I read in future. I wouldn't have got this dvd if I took the reviews into account.
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Good Watch

By Ell1981 (169 reviews) from London , 04 Jan 2011

Inventive film with just about enough to enjoy even if you know nothing of the subject. A touch over sentimental but good acting all round helps with the enjoyment.
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Terrible Film

By samsjubblies (18 reviews) from Redditch , 16 Sep 2010

The film was absolutely terrible, we were waiting for the film to actually start and by a 3rd of the way through we'd had enough of it and turned it off, this is one of the worse films we have ever attempted to watch!
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American Splendor

By a customer from england , 25 Apr 2010

Matches the billing of being mundane so not very entertaining. If you have the time to psychoanalyse its fine but not really for me.
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