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American Splendor - 9/12/03 - R - 100m
Paul
Giamatti - Harvey Pekar
Judah Friedlander - Toby Radloff
Hope Davis -Joyce Brabner
Director: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
Written by: Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini
Official
Website
JEF
This was a strange little movie, with some really good points
that would make me recommend it to some people, and yet, due to the content,
I don’t think I’d recommend it to other people thus the yellow
light.
Storyline: Harvey Pekar is a real person. He’s
most “famous” for his role as a comic book writer for “American
Splendor”. American Splendor is what many people would call an “underground
comic book” It’s certainly not mainstream. It isn’t
about superheroes, or guys with capes. It’s about Harvey Pekar.
Yes, He wrote (writes?) a comic book story about his real life adventures.
And mind you… they really aren’t adventures - for example,
a trip to the bakery, or a trip to the grocery store (my favorite scene
of the movie). Is he an Ego Maniac? Some would say yes. But it’s
a strange concept, and probably wouldn’t work for many, but Harvey
Pekar managed to make it work. Oh… the movie? It’s about all
of the above.
First the good points… I really think there were some creative and
original ideas in the film. Which is really saying something in what feels
like the summer of sequels. The blend of comic book animation, with live
action has been done before, but not quite in this way. Another example
of creative use of film, is that the two actors who portrayed Harvey (Paul
Giamatti) and Toby (Judah Friedlander) wander out of camera frame, only
to take a seat behind the real life Harvey and Toby, who then go on to
have a rather entertaining conversation about gourmet flavored jelly-beans.
Paul Giamatti nailed his character. Throughout the movie, actual footage
of the real Harvey is edited into the film. And the transfer from the
real Harvey to the “actor” Harvey is amazing. Yes, there’s
physical differences, but with Giamatti’s talent, you start to believe
HE’s the real Harvey. The talent of Judah Friedlander in playing
the role of Toby seemed to nail his character as well. Two very fine jobs.
The part where the movie sort of slipped for me was the content. Yes,
it was somewhat interesting to see the story behind this guy named Harvey
Pekar. But ya know, when all is said and done, he’s a pretty Joe-Schmoe
kinda guy. That’s not really a put down, because I guess we all
have different levels of the “Joe-Schmoe-ness” in us, but
I think Harvey’s got a little more than most of us. He’s managed
to be an important figure in the world of underground comics, he’s
managed to have a reoccurring role on “The Late Night Show”
with David Letterman, along with other TV appearances, but for some reason,
he’s still got a bland job as a file clerk, and a rather bleak,
or depressing outlook on life. (Actually I guess he’s retired now).
There were some great little stories scattered throughout the film, I
especially like the above mentioned scenes of the grocery store, and the
jelly beans, and I also thought the story of their daughter was touching.
But, after the movie was over, I found myself, not really wondering about
Harvey. Not really excited to go out and buy a copy of some of his comics
(although I am slightly curious) – The movie does skate on the thin
line of being a gigantic commercial for the comic book “American
Splendor”. I kinda feel like he’s just a strange neighbor,
that I might know to wave hi too, or chitchat about the weather, but generally
am not too interested in his life.
That being said, I do hope that Harvey is enjoying the success of this
film, and is enjoying his retirement. But something tells me that Harvey
doesn’t care what I think anyway 
Jef
PS> While trying to learn a little more about Judah Friedlander I found
he has his own website… check
it out.