American Splendor
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
| uuid: |
92EAC2D4-F1AA-44CF-8741-CC40C2E47848 |
| upc: |
0026359203121 |
| title: |
American Splendor |
| theatricalDate: |
12-09-2003 |
| stars: |
Shari Springer Berman
Paul Giamatti
Harvey Pekar |
| purchase date: |
05-11-2005 |
| publisher: |
HBO Video |
| published: |
03-02-2004 |
| price: |
$14.96 |
| net Rating: |
4 |
| MPAA Rating: |
R |
| minutes: |
101 |
| last lookup time: |
152888416 |
| genre: |
Black Comedy
HBO Films |
| fullTitle: |
American Splendor |
| features: |
Color
Closed-captioned
Widescreen
Dolby
1.77:1 |
| director: |
Robert Pulcini
Shari Springer Berman |
| currentValue: |
$3.40 |
| created: |
152888416 |
| country: |
us |
| aspect: |
DVD |
| asin: |
B0000U0X20
|
