Fresh
I can't imagine how the filmmakers went about it, let alone pulled the whole thing off, but their film comes together in unpredictable and remarkably pleasurable ways.
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
American Splendor
Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff
2003 · 1h 41m · R
Comedy, Drama
Directed by
Shari Springer Berman
,
Robert Pulcini
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American Splendor
Overview
An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.
Director and cast
- Shari Springer Berman Director
- Robert Pulcini Director
- Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar
- Hope Davis as Joyce Brabner
- Judah Friedlander as Toby Radloff
- James Urbaniak as Robert Crumb
- Earl Billings as Mr. Boats
- James McCaffrey as Fred
- Maggie Moore as Alice Quinn
- Vivienne Benesch as Lana
- Daniel Tay as Young Harvey
- Harvey Pekar as Real Harvey
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
94%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The rare artist biopic that goes beyond the dull march of events and actually illuminates the creative process.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
Fresh
A glorious rebuke to all this summer's recycled, effects-ridden, laboriously "fun" Hollywood disappointments piled along the wayside like so many crashed cars.
David Ansen, Newsweek
Fresh
We're constantly kept on our toes regarding issues of representation while Pekar's sour but indefatigible working-class skepticism carries us along.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Hugely enjoyable and very clever portrait of Harvey Pekar.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
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