American Splendor
From AwardAnnals
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| Director(s) | Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini |
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| Distributor | HBO Video |
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| One of the most acclaimed films of 2003, American Splendor is also one of the most audaciously creative biographical movies ever made. Blending fact, fiction, and personal perspective from the comic books that inspired it, this marvelous portrait of Harvey Pekar—scowling curmudgeon, brow-beaten everyman, insightful chronicler of his own life, and frustrated file clerk at a Cleveland V.A. hospital—is an inspired amalgam of the media (comic books, TV, and film) that lifted Pekar from obscurity to the status of a pop-cultural icon. As played by Paul Giamatti… | |
Honors
Reviews
Amazon.com
One of the most acclaimed films of 2003, American Splendor is also one of the most audaciously creative biographical movies ever made. Blending fact, fiction, and personal perspective from the comic books that inspired it, this marvelous portrait of Harvey Pekar—scowling curmudgeon, brow-beaten everyman, insightful chronicler of his own life, and frustrated file clerk at a Cleveland V.A. hospital—is an inspired amalgam of the media (comic books, TV, and film) that lifted Pekar from obscurity to the status of a pop-cultural icon. As played by Paul Giamatti in a master-stroke of casting, we see Pekar and his understanding wife (played by Hope Davis) as underdogs in a world full of obstacles, yet also infused with subtle hope and (gasp!) heartwarming perseverance. We also see the real Pekar, and this multifaceted commingling of “reel” and “real” turns American Splendor into a uniquely cinematic celebration of Pekar’s life and, by extension, the tenacity of an unlikely American hero. —Jeff Shannon
Barnes and Noble
For sheer audacity, it’s hard to beat American Splendor, which mixes reality and make-believe in a dazzling tour de force. Based on the highly regarded graphic novel of the same name, Splendor follows the everyday exploits of Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti), a self-described “schlub” who works as a file clerk in a veterans’ hospital by day and collects books and records the rest of the time. Inspired to write a comic-book account of his daily life—putting all his gripes, insecurities, and paranoia into print—Pekar becomes a cult celebrity and attracts the attentions of Joyce Brabner (Hope Davis), a comic-shop manager who’s a bit of a schlub herself. Husband-and-wife directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, documentary makers for whom this is a fiction debut, could have adapted Pekar’s story in a straightforward manner, but they spice things up by including footage of the real Pekar and Brabner, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Moreover, some sequences unfold in comic-book style, moving in and out of the world created in the live-action footage. Pekar’s existential angst translates to film surprisingly well, thanks in no small part to Giamatti, usually a dependable supporting player, who here proves himself eminently capable of carrying a picture. Davis, a talented performer with an impressive track record of playing vulnerable, emotionally damaged characters, is equally impressive as Brabner; seeing the real Joyce on screen will demonstrate just how well Davis captured her. For all the inspired kvetching—which is what made Pekar an underground sensation and earned him invites to David Letterman’s TV show—American Splendor has a puckish, buoyant tone that makes it irresistible. It’s one of the most imaginative movies you’re likely to see in a very long time. Ed Hulse
