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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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File Clerk
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Underground
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 28 wins
&
32 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(63 articles)
Sundance Photo Preview: The Extra Man, from the Writer/Directors of American Splendor
(From Slash Film. 14 December 2009, 10:02 AM, PST)
Predictions 2010 Sundance Film Festival: Duplass Bros., Janez Burger, Kit Hui
(From ioncinema. 12 December 2009, 6:25 PM, PST)
(From Slash Film. 14 December 2009, 10:02 AM, PST)
Predictions 2010 Sundance Film Festival: Duplass Bros., Janez Burger, Kit Hui
(From ioncinema. 12 December 2009, 6:25 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A True Super-Hero!
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 the establishing Manhattan skyline shot before one of the Letterman sequences, what was then (the 1980s) the Pan Am building is shown with its current "Met Life" signs (which didn't replace the "Pan Am" signs until 1992) shining from the top.
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Quotes:
Toby Radloff:
How long are you going to be in Delaware? Because I'd really like to see this movie with you.
Harvey Pekar: I don't know. I'll be gone about a week. But I'm getting married, so I'll have to bring her along too. Is it a girl flick?
Toby Radloff: Depends on the girl. Is your new bride a nerd?
Harvey Pekar: I don't know. Kinda. Yeah. She's in to herbal tea.
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Harvey Pekar: I don't know. I'll be gone about a week. But I'm getting married, so I'll have to bring her along too. Is it a girl flick?
Toby Radloff: Depends on the girl. Is your new bride a nerd?
Harvey Pekar: I don't know. Kinda. Yeah. She's in to herbal tea.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Luke Can See Her Face (#4.20)" (2004)
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Soundtrack:
I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time
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FAQ
How does it end?more
more (211 total)
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Throughout the years, people have read dozens of comic books: Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, The Green Latern, X-Men, Hulk, etc., looking for escape from reality, but at the same time, looking for a relation from those books. With "American Splendor" on the other hand, it's quite a different comic book. What makes it so special? It's depicting real life where it shows the character Harvey Pekar in different situations.
"American Splendor" is a comic/drama biography about the life of Harvey Pekar(Played by Paul Giamatti) in which the film plays like a comic book showing scenes that are real and fiction. Even the real Harvey makes appearances quite often in the film to talk about his life, his wife(Joyce) and everything that sort of made him the person who he is today.
Harvey Pekar can be described as one of those characters who don't seem to give a damn about the world. The reason that I root for this character is that he's the type person that lives in his own world, from not giving a crap about the incidents in the world, to not having a formal college education, to working at a dead end job where in the future, people are still laughing at him. And yet, I don't blame him. I am reminded of two other movies that had losers, but made an impact on male society: "The Big Lebowski" and "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" in which both male characters didn't have to worry about anything or go out on dates, or even pleasing society(shame on you, people).
All in All, American Splendor is a great movie. Though the film's target audience are for guys, I still encourage people to see this movie. The film also stars, Hope Davis portraying Harvey's wife, Joyce.
One of the Best Films!