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American Splendor (2003)
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Overview
User Rating:
Directors:
Writers (WGA):
Harvey Pekar (comic book series American Splendor) and
Joyce Brabner (comic book series Our Cancer Year) ...
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Joyce Brabner (comic book series Our Cancer Year) ...
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Release Date:
12 September 2003 (USA)
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Tagline:
Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff.
Plot:
An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Comic Book
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Crumb
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Celebrity
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Hospital
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Underground
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 28 wins
&
32 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(58 articles)
Paul Giamatti: 'I'm clearly not Brad Pitt'
(From The Guardian - Film News. 12 November 2009, 1:27 AM, PST)
Interview: Dean Haspiel on Act-i-vate, ‘Bored to Death’, and Jack Kirby
(From The Flickcast. 26 October 2009, 9:00 AM, PDT)
(From The Guardian - Film News. 12 November 2009, 1:27 AM, PST)
Interview: Dean Haspiel on Act-i-vate, ‘Bored to Death’, and Jack Kirby
(From The Flickcast. 26 October 2009, 9:00 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Fascinating Wackos
more (211 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Chris Ambrose | ... | Superman | |
| Joey Krajcar | ... | Batman | |
| Josh Hutcherson | ... | Robin | |
| Cameron Carter | ... | Green Lantern | |
| Daniel Tay | ... | Young Harvey | |
| Mary Faktor | ... | Housewife | |
| Paul Giamatti | ... | Harvey Pekar | |
| Harvey Pekar | ... | Real Harvey | |
| Shari Springer Berman | ... | Interviewer (voice) | |
| Larry John Meyers | ... | Throat Doctor (as Larry John Myers) | |
| Vivienne Benesch | ... | Lana | |
| Barbara Brown | ... | Nurse | |
| Earl Billings | ... | Mr. Boats | |
| Danny Hoch | ... | Marty | |
| James Urbaniak | ... | Robert Crumb |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Brazil:14 |
USA:R (certificate #39761) |
USA:TV-14 (cable rating) |
USA:TV-MA (TV rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Canada:PG |
Germany:6 |
Iceland:LH |
Mexico:B |
Netherlands:AL |
Norway:A |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG |
Sweden:Btl |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:15
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
All of the "white room" documentary scenes were filmed in one day.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: In Joyce Brabner's comic book shop in Delaware, she is looking for the new issue of American Splendor, issue #8. American Splendor #8 was published in 1983. There are several promotional posters on the wall of the comics character Concrete (the black, white, and yellow ones that say "Can't find what you're looking for? Just Ask!"). The first Concrete story was not first published until 1986. (The poster wasn't released until much later.)
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Quotes:
Harvey Pekar:
[looking at himself in the mirror] Well, there's a reliable disappointment.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Frame on the Wall: The Making of 'The Door in the Floor' (2004) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Lady Be Good
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FAQ
How does it end?more
more (211 total)
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I guess I am sucker for biographies of weird people. This certainly qualifies for that.
What makes this film different from others is the combination of fictional and real people playing the two main characters: Harvey and Joyce Pekar. For most of the film, Paul Giamatti portrays Pekar - the main focus of the film, and Hope Davis plays his wife, Joyce. However, interspersed in the film are comments from the real Harvey and Joyce. Strange!!!
The only thing stranger that the film structure is the story of these actual people. You wouldn't think that two dull introverts like this could be made to look so interesting, but they are. What a testimony to the job the filmmakers did here....and the actors. Giamatti was amazing.
After seeing this movie, I was inspired to go out and obtain several of Harvey Pekar's comic books. Whew! I should have stuck with just the movie. The comics stink!! Don't waste your money.