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American Splendor (2003)

R  101 min  -  Biography | Comedy | Drama   -  12 September 2003 (USA)
7.6
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Ratings: 7.6/10 from 28,117 users   Metascore: 90/100 
Reviews: 216 user | 171 critic | 42 from Metacritic.com

An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.

Writers:

Harvey Pekar (comic book series American Splendor), Joyce Brabner (comic book series Our Cancer Year), and 2 more credits »
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Nominated for Oscar. Another 31 wins & 32 nominations See more awards »

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American Splendor -- An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar. American Splendor -- An original mix of fiction and reality illuminates the life of comic book hero everyman Harvey Pekar.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Ambrose Chris Ambrose ...
Joey Krajcar Joey Krajcar ...
Batman
Josh Hutcherson ...
Robin
Cameron Carter Cameron Carter ...
Daniel Tay ...
Mary Faktor ...
Housewife
Paul Giamatti ...
Harvey Pekar ...
Shari Springer Berman ...
Interviewer (voice)
Larry John Meyers Larry John Meyers ...
Throat Doctor (as Larry John Myers)
Vivienne Benesch Vivienne Benesch ...
Lana
Barbara Brown ...
Nurse
Earl Billings ...
Mr. Boats
Danny Hoch ...
Marty
James Urbaniak ...
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Storyline

Harvey Pekar is file clerk at the local VA hospital. His interactions with his co-workers offer some relief from the monotony, and their discussions encompass everything from music to the decline of American culture to new flavors of jellybeans and life itself. At home, Harvey fills his days with reading, writing and listening to jazz. His apartment is filled with thousands of books and LPs, and he regularly scours Cleveland's thrift stores and garage sales for more, savoring the rare joy of a 25-cent find. It is at one of these junk sales that Harvey meets Robert Crumb, a greeting card artist and music enthusiast. When, years later, Crumb finds international success for his underground comics, the idea that comic books can be a valid art form for adults inspires Harvey to write his own brand of comic book. An admirer of naturalist writers like Theodore Dreiser, Harvey makes his American Splendor a truthful... Written by Sujit R. Varma  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Comic Book | Harvey Pekar | Celebrity | V.a. Hospital | Underground  | See more »

Taglines:

Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff.

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Esplendor americano See more »

Filming Locations:

Cleveland, Ohio, USA See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$159,705 (USA) (17 August 2003) (6 Screens)

Gross:

$6,003,587 (USA) (30 November 2003)
See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Machine See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jonathan Demme had tried to adapt a film version of "American Splendor" in the 1980s, but the project never came to fruition as Demme wasn't an established director. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: The red and white Ohio license plate on Toby's station wagon was actually in use during the years of 1976-1979. Since he was going to see Revenge of the Nerds, the correct Ohio license plate would have been blue lettering on a white background which was issued during 1980-1984. See more »

Quotes

Real Harvey: I felt more alone that week than any. Sometimes I'd feel a body lying next to me like an amputee feels a phantom limb. All I did was think about Jennie Gerhardt and Alice Quinn and all the decades of people I had known. The more I thought, the more I felt like crying. Life seemed so sweet and so sad, and so hard to let go of in the end. But hey, man, every day is a brand new deal, right? Just keep on working and something's bound to turn up.
See more »

Connections

Featured in "The Hour: Episode #7.58" (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"Taint Nobody's Bizness (If I Do)"
(1923)
Written by Everett Robbins and Porter Grainger
Performed by Jay McShann
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products See more »