American Splendor

I recommend ‘American Splendor’, a film about the crusty Harvey Pekar and titled after the comic book he authors chronicling his everyday life as a file clerk in Cleveland.   I became acquainted with the ‘American Splendor’ series in the mid-90s.   The film captures its feel.   Interesting in the often overlapping ways that various Harveys are presented: the real Pekar, an actor playing him (Paul Giamatti in a good performance), cartoon Harveys, actors playing actors performing a stage version of ‘Splendor’.

--Sep 3, 2003