Sam Bordeaux This is just one of the most beautiful, honest, simple films ever made.It is the kind of film that I think about when my life is in the trenches.It was a story about real people, and we even got to meet them in the course of the film.I read the most popular review of this film for about two sentences, I'll admit that, but the obvious negativity about the review belied the reviewers clueless inability to see the bigger picture.And I say that lovingly....But honest to gosh, if you can't watch this film without getting all bitchy about details, then you should play it safe and stick to Chuck Norris.

runamokprods The true story of Harvey Pekar, a misanthropic file clerk and comic book fan, who met Robert Crumb, and had the brilliant idea to turn his everyday trials and tribulations into a comic book. Sort of everyman as superman.The film has Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis (both uncanny and terrific) playing the real life Harvey and his off-beat mate, while occasionally the real Harvey comments on it all ('this guy you got playin' me...') either in narration, or on camera in a kind of white room limbo set. So, like the comic, the film plays with levels of reality, but goes it one better. There's the real Harvey, his lightly fictionalized counter-part from the cartoons, and the two actors, who seem to be playing a combination of both real and comic book creation.Its all wonderfully playful and funny but still has room to be quite touching and human on occasion, and raises all sorts of interesting questions about what is 'truth' in storytelling and in life – what is a 'documentary'?, Are our own accounts of lives 'true?It's a house of mirrors that leaves you smiling, thoughtful and touched at the dignity and insight of 'normal' people – which seems to be a big part of Pekar's seemingly grumpy argument. A lovely film with humor, heart and art that goes out and creates its own rules.

Chrysanthepop Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's 'American Splendor' is one of the most unique and quirkiest biopics I've seen. It is one of a kind in terms of its execution especially in how the film moves in and out of Pekar's comic book world to the film where the actors portray the characters to the live footage of Pekar himself and the people in his life. This is very cleverly done. Not only does it enrich the viewing experience of the viewer but also allows the viewer to appreciate the artist and person that Pekar is. I hadn't known much about Pekar before nor heard of 'American Splendor' his underground comic book series but I am fascinated by comic books, the world therein that is created by the artists, the creativity and inspiration of the artists.Here the depiction of Pekar and the people in his life feels genuine and Pekar himself doesn't seem to have any objections. Moreover, what I also liked, is that he's brutally honest. He doesn't shy away from saying what his intention is with the film, what he expects to get.The theme is psychology is also crucial here and is well used. Joyce's preliminary diagnosis are amusing and not bad conjectures either. Pekar shows classic signs of depression and there's the lingering risk of relapse as he's, almost always, unhappy.The directors really bring out Pekar's amusingly weird yet likable world that is inhabited by awkward characters. The humour is a fine mix of dry, satire, somewhat dark and situational. The performances are superb. Even the presence of the people the film is based on does not intrude nor diminish the appreciation of what the actors have done. Giamatti, Davis and Friedlander are great as Pekar, Joyce and Toby's film counterparts. They're spot on. Pekar himself is great.Overall, 'American Splendor' is a delightfully quirky film and, in addition to being entertaining, it provides a splendid glimpse into the life of an unhappy man.

GHCool The movie has a knack of feeling incredibly simple, but is actually quite complex in its construction. For example, a lot has been said about Paul Giamatti's performance, and rightly so since it is at the heart of the film, but I'm convinced that those who call American Splendor a character study are doing so in error. It is really an ensemble piece crafted so well that it feels simpler than it actually is. Consider the contributions of Hope Davis and Judah Friedlander (both of whom give performances equal to Giamatti's), who disappear into their roles. The same can be said about the entire cast. Consider too the on screen presence of the real Harvey, Joyce, and Toby, without whom the film would have not had nearly the color and texture that it has.The movie does another neat trick by being both faithful to the comics and being an uplifting and original biopic of its own. The screenplay, which weaves reality, fantasy, documentary, and animation is build on so many layers that in lesser hands, the film would feel disjointed and confusing, yet the writer/director team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini never confuse us.