American Splendor (2003)
- Starring:
- Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis, (more)
- Director(s):
- Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini, (more
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Independent Films
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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, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 101 mins
Complete Cast:
- 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):
- Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman
- Writer(s):
- Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
- Producer(s):
- Ted Hope
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Profanity, Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations)
- Categories:
- Independent Films
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 2003 - American Splendor - American Film Institute - Best Picture
- 2003 - American Splendor - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Filmmaker
- 2003 - American Splendor - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Filmmaker
- 2003 - American Splendor - Deauville Film Festival - Special Jury Prize
- 2003 - American Splendor - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - American Splendor - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Picture
- 2003 - American Splendor - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - American Splendor - National Board of Review - Best Breakthrough Actor
- 2003 - American Splendor - National Board of Review - Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking
- 2003 - American Splendor - National Society of Film Critics - Best Picture
- 2003 - American Splendor - National Society of Film Critics - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - American Splendor - National Society of Film Critics - Best Actor - Runner-up
- 2003 - American Splendor - National Society of Film Critics - Best Screenplay
- 2003 - American Splendor - New York Film Critics Circle - Best First Film
- 2003 - American Splendor - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actress
- 2003 - American Splendor - New York Film Critics Circle - Best First Film
- 2003 - American Splendor - Sundance Film Festival - Dramatic Grand Jury Prize
- 2003 - American Splendor - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best First Feature
- 2003 - American Splendor - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best First Feature
- 2003 - American Splendor - Writers Guild of America - Best Adapted Screenplay
- 2003 - American Splendor - Writers Guild of America - Best Adapted Screenplay
