American Splendor (2003)
- Starring:
- Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis, (more)
- Director(s):
- Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman, (more)
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of American Splendor
The documentary directing team of Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman makes their narrative feature debut with the biographical comedy drama American Splendor. Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti) is a comic book writer inspired by the work of his friend Robert Crumb (James Urbaniak). Pekar writes his comics about the sad monotony of everyday life, based on his own life in Cleveland, OH, working as a file clerk at a veteran's hospital and spending his time reading books and listening to jazz. He meets up with Joyce Brabner (Hope Davis) and they enjoy a depressive relationship together. The filmmakers employ a combination of live-action film, video, and animation, including narration and commentary from the real-life Harvey Pekar. The screenplay was based on Pekar's comic book series American Splendor, which he has been writing since 1976 on Dark Horse Comics, and the 1994 book-length comic Our Cancer Year, written by Pekar and Brabner. American Splendor won the Grand Jury Prize in the Dramatic Competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 101 mins
Complete Cast of American Splendor
- Paul Giamatti - Harvey Pekar
- Harvey Pekar - Real Harvey
- James Urbaniak - Robert Crumb
- Earl Billings - Mr. Boats
- Madylin Sweeten - Danielle
- Danielle Batone - Real Danielle
- Hope Davis - Joyce Brabner
- Shari Springer Berman - Interviewer
- Judah Friedlander - Toby Radloff
- Joyce Brabner - Real Joyce
- James McCaffrey - Fred
- Maggie Moore - Alice Quinn
- Director(s):
- Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
- Writer(s):
- Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
- Producer(s):
- Ted Hope
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Profanity, Adult Humor, Adult Situations, Sexual Situations)
- Categories:
- Independent Films
- 2003 - American Film Institute - Best Picture
- 2003 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Filmmaker
- 2003 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Filmmaker
- 2003 - Deauville Film Festival - Special Jury Prize
- 2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Picture
- 2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - National Board of Review - Best Breakthrough Actor
- 2003 - National Board of Review - Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking
- 2003 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Actor - Runner-up
- 2003 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Picture
- 2003 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best First Film
- 2003 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best First Film
- 2003 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
- 2003 - Sundance Film Festival - Dramatic Grand Jury Prize
- 2003 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best First Feature
- 2003 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best First Feature
- 2003 - Writers Guild of America - Best Adapted Screenplay
- 2003 - Writers Guild of America - Best Adapted Screenplay
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