Movie: American Splendor

oXYnary

Follows the autobiographical story of Harvey P. Famous for his "American Splendor" series of comics as the writer.

In we follow his dull and dead end life as a Clerk in the VA where hes gets more and more depressed about his life and where it's (not) headed. After meeting Crumb, and becoming friends, he finds the underground comic scence, and starts writing stories about his own life.

It continues on as he struggles in life, and the duality he creates as being just a regular joe, and being a "hero" in some sense to others in his comic form.

The story is always very truthful, and never tries to glamorize his existence, or those around him. The acting is superb, and keeps cutting back to voice overs and shots of the real Harvey and his friends.

Its very touching, and yet so honest that it helps to show how people identify themselves with their reaction to the movie. People closer to the day to day battles that Harvey shows us will identify and love the movie. While those that deny it live as he shows in a untruthful shallow existence.

If you liked the movie "Crumb", or slighlty "Napoleon Dynamite" this movie may appeal to you.

pogonip

I thought it was well done but pretty damn depressing . Working hard to be succesful at something only to never catch a break even when working with other popular talent . Uhh I felt sorry for that guy .

MikeF

i baught it a while back and i've watched it a few times now. It's not an amazing movie or anything, but it just has a certain flare that apeals to my more "hopefull side". Plus listening to toby go on about revenge of the nerds is classic, it has quite a good score aswell.

Sett

I own a fair stack of Harvey's work. I like his personal touch, and emotional input. An excelent insight into a 'common American'(if there is such a thing).

oXYnary

Actually I gotta know, pogonip, are you in Canada as well?

Anyone noticing a trend if so?

jzero

I haven't had the chance to watch the whole movie yet, but I think it says something about Paul Giamatti's talents that he was able to bring someone as kooky and real as Harvey Pekar to the big screen. I remember Harvey at a comic convention I attended back in the 80s, and he stands out as one of the most thoughtful and sensitive people I've ever encountered. His outward self is nothing like his bitter, troubled inner self, apparently!

/jzero

Scott Ruggels

I might have watched it, if I did n't dislike the entire genre of comics he spawned. I see no nobility in depression and failure, and little "entertainment" in the mundane and small. I was working in comics when this guy started publishing.

Scott

pogonip

[ QUOTE ]
Actually I gotta know, pogonip, are you in Canada as well?

Anyone noticing a trend if so?

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL ! No but im just north of seattle in everett which is about 90 miles from the canadian border ..

Dukester

[ QUOTE ]
I might have watched it, if I did n't dislike the entire genre of comics he spawned. I see no nobility in depression and failure, and little "entertainment" in the mundane and small. I was working in comics when this guy started publishing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Preach on brutha Ruggels!

I am a great enjoyer of Crumb's work, but I am not particularly fond of his HP sutff at all.

Never been able to finsh any of Harvey's strips no matter how short they were or who drew them. Zzzzz....

gauss

American Splendor is an excellent film, but can't vouch for the comic strip. the movie work because i love paul giamatti, most of all i think i could certainly see it wearing out its welcome, and as Mr. Ruggels states, it's unfortunate that autobiographical comics that are self depracating, unnecessarily candid etc. in the vein of Pekar's work are practically a whole genre unto themselves.

oXYnary

The best works are usually the most honest. Unless one likes to include human morality as trait rather than a learned ideal.

[ QUOTE ]
I see no nobility in depression and failure, and little "entertainment" in the mundane and small.

[/ QUOTE ]

I saw the film and comics help redeem him as a person. Also the way that unlike most. He stood up for himself. I mean he had the guts to to that on Letterman. That sir, is noble.

He survived. Survival is noble. Unless you like the hero. Which is usually dead.

His wife had it spot on. Megalomaniac=Letterman. Himself=Obsessive Compulsive.